2 Timothy 4

I Charge thee therefore before God Who seeth, and observeth what thou doest, and will one day call thee to account for thy discharge of thy Ministry., and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing And before the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou hast more reason to regard, not only because he is thy Master, and thou his Servant in a special sense, but because he is to be thy Judge also, for he shall be the Judge, as of those that are dead before his coming, so those also who shall be alive at his coming, 1 Cor. 15.52. 1 Thess. 4.15, 17., and his kingdom When he shall appear the second time, and set up his Kingdom of Glory, delivering up his Mediatory Kingdom to his Father; I charge thee, as in the presence of God, and this Christ; or as thou hast a regard to God and to this Christ, and fearest the angry face of this Judge, or believest his second coming, or expectest a share in his Kingdom of Glory: A most severe obtestation, charge or adjuration. What is that duty which is usher'd in in so solemn a manner? It followeth..

Preach Proclaim like an herauld, cry like a common cryer in the hearing of a multitude. Thus God to Isaiah, chap. 58.1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet. the word The word of truth, chap. 2.15. or the Gospel, called the word, by way of Emphasis. See Mat. 4.23. and 24.14. Mark 1.14. and 13.10. and 16.15. The word of God, not old Wives Fables, endless Genealogies, perverse disputings, unedifying questions, &c. This precept reflects upon unpreaching Ministers, and impertinent vain preachers., be instant Be earnest and diligent. This reflects upon a cold and perfunctory preaching. God bid Isaiah cry aloud, lift up his voice like a trumpet. Sinners are like deaf Adders. in season, and out of season That is at all times, not on the Lords days only, but any other time when thou hast opportunity, not in times when thou mayest do it with safety, but when the wisdom of the flesh tells thee it is out of season. This reflects upon such as preach rarely, and consult their flesh, whether they should perform it at all, or no., reprove Reprove, convince such as gainsay the truth., rebuke Rebuke all sinners, all that live an ill life. This reflects upon those effeminate preachers, against whom Ezekiel denounced the w, Ezek. 13.18. That sow pillowes to all arm-holes; that prophesie smooth things in stead of the right things of the word., exhort Persuade or comfort, (the word signifies both) as thou seest occasion., with all long suffering But do what thou doest prudently, with meekness. God needeth not thy passion, though he makes use of thy art in instruction., and doctrine Do it so as to join instruction with thy reproof. This reflects upon flattering, fawning, unfaithful Preachers, and such as vent their own passion, rather then pursue their due end for instruction and reformation of souls..

For the time will come This time always was, (as appears by the writings of the Prophets) but it will come more and more, as the World grows older, it will grow more mad., when they Very many that shall live in the World, yea in the bosom of the Church, will not indure sound doctrine will not indure that preaching, which has any soundness in it, or is of any tendency, life, power or efficacy, to recover their souls from the diseases of sin and lusts;, but after their own lusts But in favour of their own lusts, and to secure their satisfaction in them. shall they heap to themselves teachers Will be finding out teachers, not according to Gods, but to their own hearts, and there will be plenty of them to be found, they shall heap them up, choosing them without any judgment, regarding nothing but whether they will not be smart upon their lusts., having itching ears or their Ears itch, and they must have those that will scratch them. The disease of lust in their souls, brings forth an itch in their Ears, that they will have a mind to hear only such as will by scratching please them.

And they shall turn away their eares from the truth Either in contempt, or scorn of it, as being delivered in too plain notions or stile; or through impatience, not induring their lusts should be touched, and the evil of their wayes showed them., and shall be turned unto fables Delighting to hear fables, any idle stories, or impertinent discourses, provided they touch not their lusts, Missa non mordet, the Mass will not bite, was an old saying of the Popish Faction..

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions Watching implyeth, 1. A negation of sleep. 2. An industrious keeping our selves awake for some end. Keep thy self from all sin, and from all idleness and laziness, and do this industriously, that thou mayst honour God in thy work., do the work of an evangelist For thy work is a great work; the work of one who is to publish the Gospel; Or of one who is left by me the Apostle of Christ to settle the Church, which I have aid the foundation of, Acts 21.8. Eph. 4.11., make full proof of thy ministry Make a full proof unto others of thy faithfulness in thy Ministerial office and employment..

For I am now ready to be offered, the word properly signifieth to be offered as a drink-offering, which was offered by being poured out. Some say that is only used to signifie such offerings, whereby some Covenant was confirmed, so as it not only signifieth that Paul was sensible that he should dye a violent death, but that his death should be an establishment and confirmation of the Doctrine of the Gospel, which he had preached, that he should be offered upon the sacrifice and service of their Faith; as he speaketh, Phil. 2.17. where the same word is used. A Learned Author thinks it is there used in a little different sense, there as an accession to the Sacrifice, here as a preparation to it, they being wont to prepare their Sacrifice, by pouring Wine upon it; which possibly guided our Translators, to Translate it, here I am ready to be offered., and the time of my departure is at hand, We Translate it departure, it properly signifieth Resolution, because in death we are resolved into dust, from whence we are. If any ask how Paul knew, that the time of his death was so near. Answer, He might know t by Revelation from God, or from his observation of Neroes temper, malice, or behaviour toward him..

I have fought the good fight My Life has been a Military Life, but I have not fought the evil fights of ambitious or quarrelsome men: My fighting has been the good and noble fight of Faith, a fight with the World, the Flesh and the Devil, a contending for the Faith delivered to the Saints, a maintaining the lustings of the Spirit against the Flesh, a warring with Spiritual wickednesses in high places., I have finished my course God appointed me a race to run, as a Christian, as an Apostle and Minister of Christ: I have now finished it., I have kept the faith. I have kept the Doctrine of Faith, upholding and maintaining it, in and by my Ministry, and I have lived in the exercise of the Grace of Faith.

Henceforth there is laid up As to what remains for me, (so the word signifies, (not henceforth) as we Translate it) there is prepared, and in safe keeping for me, Col. 1.5. Or there is appointed for me, vid. Heb. 9.27. for me a crown Another kind of Crown then what the conquerours used to have in the Grecian games, an high and great reward, a glory with which my whole man shall be incompassed as a mans head is with a Crown. of righteousness The purchase of Christ's Righteousness, and ample reward of mine also, the giving out of which also will be the effect of Gods Truth and Justice, 1 Iohn 1.9., which the Lord, the righteous judge And Jesus Christ, who in this shall show himself a righteous Judge; shall give me Shall give it me of his free mercy, for all I have done has not merited it. at that day At the day of Judgment, my Soul shall have it at my dissolution, my whole man in the Resurrection., and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing Nor is this crown my particular reward, but if any persons so lead their lives in this World, as that they can desire, and be pleased with the thoughts and hopes of the second coming of Christ to Judgment, Christ will give them also the same reward..

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me To Rome, where Paul was at this time a Prisoner, it appears from Phil. 2.19. that Timothy did go to Paul at Rome, according to this desire of his, and was with him while a Prisoner there..

For Demas has forsaken me He shows the reason why he desired Timothy to come to him, because most of those who were with him, were gone. Some think this Demas is Demetrius, mentioned 3 Iohn 12. (the name being only shortened.) He was at Rome with Paul some time, Col. 4.14. Some make a question, whether Demas wholly Aposta ized, or only left Paul for a time, and went to Thessalonica about some secular business, afterward returning, having loved this present world Some make the sense of this phrase no more then minding his worldly business. Others think that he being frighted with Pauls danger, wholly left him,, and is departed unto Thessalonica and went to Thessalonica, possibly his own country, however, at a great distance from the danger of Neroes Court., Crescens to Galatia A Province in the lesser Asia, whither probably Crescens went to preach the Gospel., Titus unto Dalmatia Dalmatia is in Sclavonia, Titus went thither (without all doubt) to preach the Gospel..

Only Luke is with me Of whom we also read Col. 4.14. he was a Physitian Pauls fellow-labourer, Philemon 24., Take Mark and bring him with thee Of Mark we read Acts 12. and 15.37. He was Kinsman to Barnabas Col. 4.10. it appears by that Text that he was at Rome with Paul, and his fellow-labourer, Philemon 24., for he is profitable to me for the ministery The Ministry of the Gospel. Pauls care was more for that, then for a ministring to himself, though he was a Prisoner..

And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus I have given order to Tychicus, to come to Ephesus in thy absence..

The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus Troas was a City in Asia, where we find Paul more then once, Acts 16.8. and 20.5 he preached Christ there, 2 Cor. 2 12. there Paul left an upper garment with one Crispus, which probably (having no great Wardrobe) he might want, being a Prisoner., when thou comest, bring with thee x, and the books, but especially the parchments Interpreters idly busie themselves in inquiring after what they can never find out, what these books were, or what was written in these parchments..

Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil We read of three Alexanders, one Mark 15.21. the Son of him that bare Christs cross, another Acts 4.6. akin to Annas the High Priest; a third, Acts 19.33. probably the person here meant, for he was an Ephesian, but he at that time was a Disciple of Pauls, as appears there, probably, afterward he Apostatized, and was Excommunicated by Paul, 1 Tim. 1.20. which might possibly provoke him; what harm he did him, and where, whether at Ephesus or Rome, it is not said.: the Lord reward him according to his works How far it is lawful to pray against our enemies, (as Paul did here against Alexander) see the notes on Psal. 109.6. &c. Ier. 11.20. and 12.3. &c..

Of whom be thou ware also; for he has greatly withstood our words.

At my first answer At my first appearing before Nero, and the Court of Rome, no man stood with me none o the Christians stood by me, or owned me;, but all men forsook me but all being frighted at my danger, left me alone to speak for my self.: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge They sinned through weakness, and humane frailty, and the Lord I hope will pardon it, God grant them remission..

Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me That is, did not leave me. It is opened by the next word,, and strengthened me he gave me courage and inward ability, so as I was able to plead, and to defend my cause., that by me the preaching might be fully known That all men that heard me might fully know by Gods presence with me, seen in my courage, that my preaching was not from my self, or from men, but from God, the message of God by one to the sons of men., and that all the Gentiles might hear And that al the Heathen present in the Court of Rome might hear and believe:, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lyon And I was for the present delivered out of my great danger, or possibly he calls Nero (the Roman Emperor at that time) a Lyon for his barbarous cruelties..

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work Faith riseth upon experience, 1 Sam. 17.37, 46. 2 Cor. 1.10. By evil-work may be understood any sin into which Paul might fall through temptation: Or the evil works of others, designing mischief to the Apostle, he expresseth his faith in this term of various signification, to learn us how to exercise our Faith in God, in an evil time, viz. believing that God will either deliver us from our danger, or from sinning, by reason of our danger, for we have no foundation for our Faith, to believe that God will at all times keep us from evils of suffering., and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom And that he will save us, and preserve us, if not as to a Temporal Life, yet to a Coelestial, Honourable, Glorious Inheritance., to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen This is an usual form of giving praise to God, desiring all honour might be given to him..

Salute Prisca and Aquila By this Prisca and Aquila it is more then probable, he means that Priscilla and Aquila, mentioned 1 C r. 16.19., and the houshold of Onesiphorus It cannot be concluded from hence that Onesiphorus was now dead, but probably he was. It is the same man, mentioned chap. 1.16..

Erastus abode at Corinth Of this Erastus see Rom. 16.23. He was the Chamberlain of Corinth, so he abode there; Paul sent him into Macedonia, Acts 19.22.: but Trophimus have I left at Miletus sick Trophimus was an Ephesian, Acts 21.29. one of Pauls companions, Acts 20.4. he was left at Miletum a City in Asia, not far from Ephesus..

Do thy diligence to come before winter That is, to come to Rome to me before Winter, either because Sailing in the Winter time would be more dangerous, or because in the Winter time, he might have more need of his assistance., Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren We have no further account of these persons in Holy Writ, the first is a Greek name, the rest Latin, Claudia is a womans name. Paul sends the respects of these persons, and all the other Christians that at that time were in Rome to Timothy..

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit See the like Gal. 6.18. Philemon 25., Grace be with you The free Grace of God in its various emanations suited to all your necessities, Be with you. Amen.. Amen.