Year of the Jewish Cycle of nineteen years, 12, or the first after the fourth embolismic. Day of the Jewish Passover, according to the Roman computation of time, the Calends of April, i.e.
We give thanks— See Philippians 1:3, 4, and Colossians 1:3;
He shows farther, that the Thessalonians had turned from idolatry, become worshippers of the true God, and were waiting for the revelation of Christ, 9, 10. It is not a mark of much grace to be longing to get to heaven because of the troubles and difficulties of the present life; they who love Christ are ever willing to suffer with him; and he may be as much glorified by patient suffering, as by the most active faith or laborious love.
Knowing your election of God.— Being assured, from the doctrine which I have delivered to you, and which God has confirmed by various
Meekness, gentleness, and long-suffering, are in our present state of more use to ourselves and others, and of more consequence in the sight of God, than all the ecstasies of the spirits of just men made perfect, and than all the raptures of an archangel. That these blessings could be abused — become finally useless and forfeited, they had an ample proof in the case of the Jews, who, after having been the elect of God for more than 2000 years, were now become reprobates.
For our Gospel— That is, the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ, and of your being elected to enjoy all the privileges to which the
As God had chosen the Jews, whom, because of their obstinate unbelief, he had now rejected; so he had now chosen or elected the Gentiles. Ye became followers of us— Ye became imitators, mimhtai, ofus-ye believed the same truths, walked in the same way, and minded the.
Ye became followers of us— Ye became imitators, mimhtai, of us-ye believed the same truths, walked in the same way, and minded the
What manner of men we were— How we preached, and how we lived; our doctrines and our practices ever corresponding.
Ye were ensamples— topouv? Types, models, or patterns;
From you sounded out— As Thessalonica vas very conveniently situated for traffic, many merchants from thence traded through
These were glorious news; and, wherever they were told, prepared the way of the Gospel among the heathen. The Gospel has been preached there; but the lives of the Europeans professing Christianity there have been, in general, profligate, sordid, and base.
Our entrance in unto you— His first coming to preach the Gospel was particularly owned of the Lord, many of them having been converted
The manner in which the apostles preached, the matter of their doctrine, and the tenor of their lives, 3-11. How they suffered from their own countrymen, as the first believers did from the Jews, who endeavored to prevent the apostles from preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, 14-16.
Shamefully entreated-at Philippi— There Paul and Silas had been beaten with many stripes, shut up in the inner prison, and their feet made
The apostle sets forth how the Gospel was brought and preached to the Thessalonians, in consequence of his being persecuted at Philippi, 1, 2.
Our exhortation— The word paraklhsiv has a very extensive meaning; it signifies not only exhortation and teaching in general, but also
Our entrance in unto you— His first coming to preach the Gospelwas particularly owned of the Lord, many of them having been converted. Nor of uncleanness— Such as the teachings of the Gentile philosophers were; their supreme gods were celebrated for their adulteries, fornications, uncleannesses, thefts, barbarities, and profligacies of the most odious kind.
But as we were allowed of God— kaqwv dedokimasmeqa? As we were accounted worthy to be put in trust-as God put confidence in us,
Not of deceit— We did not endeavor to allure you with false pretences; we did not deceive you, nor were we deceived ourselves. Nor in guile— We had no false pretences, and were influenced by no sinister motives.
Flattering words— Though we proclaimed the Gospel or glad tidings, yet we showed that without holiness none should see the Lord
Happy is the man who can say so, whether he has the provision which the law of the land allows him, or whether he lives on the free-will offerings of the people. But wo to that man who enters into the labor for the sake of the hire.
Nor of men sought we glory— As we preached not for worldly gain, so we preached not for popular applause; we had what we sought
Is it for the sake of these that ye have entered or continue in the Gospel ministry. The faithful laborer is worthy of his hire; for the ox that treads out the corn should not be muzzled; and they that preach the Gospel should live, not riot, by the Gospel.
But we were gentle among you— Far from assuming the authority which we had, we acted towards you as a tender nurse or parent does to a
Is it your study, your earnest labor, to bring sinners to God; to preach among your heathen parishioners the unsearchable riches of Christ. Being affectionately desirous of you— We had such intense lovefor you that we were not only willing and forward to preach the.
Being affectionately desirous of you— We had such intense love for you that we were not only willing and forward to preach the
Ye remember-our labor and travail— From this it appears that St
How we exhorted— What pastoral care is marked here! They exhorted — were continually teaching and instructing, the objects of their
That ye would walk worthy of God— That they should, in every respect, act up to their high calling, that it would not be a reproach to the God of holiness to acknowledge them as his sons and daughters. Ye received the word of God— Ye received the doctrine of God,not as any thing fabricated by man, but as coming immediately from God.
Ye received the word of God— Ye received the doctrine of God, not as any thing fabricated by man, but as coming immediately from God
His Kingdom and glory.— His Church here, for that is the kingdom of God among men; and his glory hereafter, for that is the state to which the dispensations of grace in his Church lead.
Ye-became followers of the Churches of God— There is not a word here of the Church of Rome being the model after which the other
They persecuted the apostles; showing the same spirit of enmity to the Gospel which they had shown to the law. They did not please God, nor seek to please him; though they pretended that their opposition to the Gospel was through their zeal for God’s glory, they were hypocrites of the worst kind.
See Clarke on “1 Thessalonians 2:15”
They forbade the apostles to preach to the Gentiles, lest they should be saved; this was an inveteracy of malice completely superhuman; they persecuted the body to death, and the soul to damnation. They were afraid that the Gentiles should get their souls saved if the Gospel was preached to them.
Being taken from you for a short time— Through the persecution raised by the Jews, see Acts xvii., he was obliged to leave Thessalonica,
Who hath killed the Lord Jesus, etc.— What a finished but just character is this of the Jews. They were contrary to all men; they hated the whole human race, and judged and wished them to perdition.
Even I Paul— He had already sent Timothy and Silas to them;
For what is our hope— I can have no prospects from earth; I have forsaken all for the Gospel; and esteem every thing it can afford as
The apostle speaks of the wrath coming upon the Jews: it was about twenty years after this that their city was destroyed, their temple burnt, more than a million of them destroyed, their civil polity utterly subverted, and what remained of this wretched nation scattered to all the winds of heaven; and in this state, without a nation, without a temple, without worship, and apparently without any religion, they continue, to this day, a monument of God’s displeasure, and a proof of the Divine inspiration both of the prophets and apostles, who, in the most explicit manner, had predicted all the evils which have since befallen them. For what end God has preserved them distinct from all the people of the earth among whom they sojourn, we cannot pretend to say; but it must unquestionably be for an object of the very highest importance.
Timotheus, our brother— It appears that Timothy was but a youth when converted to God; he had now however been some years in
Mentions the joy he had on hearing by Timothy of their steadiness in the faith, for which he returns thanks to God; and prays earnestly for their increase, 5-10. Timotheus, our brother— It appears that Timothy was but ayouth when converted to God; he had now however been some years in.
That we should suffer tribulation— I prepared you for it, because I knew that it was according to their nature for wicked men to persecute
Therefore-we were comforted — My afflictions and persecutions seemed trifles when I heard of your perseverance in the faith
We are exposed to this, we lie open to such, they are unavoidable in the present state of things; as the Latins say, sic est sors nostra, “this is our lot.” God. For now we live— Your steadfastness in the faith gives me newlife and comfort; I now feel that I live to some purpose, as my labor in the.
For now we live— Your steadfastness in the faith gives me new life and comfort; I now feel that I live to some purpose, as my labor in the
What thanks can we render to God— The high satisfaction and uncommon joy which the apostle felt are strongly depicted in the language
Night and day praying exceedingly— Supplicating God at all times; mingling this with all my prayers; uperekperissou deomenoi ,
Now God himself and our Father— That is: God who is our Father, who has adopted us into the heavenly family, and called us his
Make you to increase and abound in love— They had already love to each other, so as to unite them in one Christian body; and he prays
The apostle exhorts them to attend to the directions which he had already given them, that they might know how to walk and please God, 1, 2. Speaks concerning their love to each other, and love to the Churches of Christ; and exhorts them to continue and increase in it, 9, 10.
We beseech you, brethren, and exhort— We give you proper instructions in heavenly things, and request you to attend to our advice
Counsels them to observe an inoffensive conduct, to mind their own affairs, to do their own business, and to live honestly\ \, 11, 12. Not to sorrow for the dead, as persons who have no hope of a resurrection; because to Christians the resurrection of Christ is a proof of the resurrection of his followers, 13, 14.
Ye know what commandments we gave you— This refers to his instructions while he was among them; and to instructions on particular
We beseech you, brethren, and exhort— We give you properinstructions in heavenly things, and request you to attend to our advice.
This is the will of God, even your sanctification— God has called you to holiness; he requires that you should be holy; for without holiness
That ye should abstain from fornication— The word porneia, as we have seen in other places, includes all sorts of uncleanness; and it was probably this consideration that induced several MSS., some versions and fathers, to add here pashv, all. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother— That no manshould by any means endeavor to corrupt the wife of another, or to.
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother— That no man should by any means endeavor to corrupt the wife of another, or to
God hath not called us unto uncleanness— He is the creator of male and female, and the institutor of marriage, and he has called men and
He therefore that despiseth— He who will not receive these teachings, and is led either to undervalue or despise them, despises not us
Spirit; in the latter sense all true Christians, as well as the Thessalonians, receive it. Griesbach has inserted it in the margin, but has not admitted it into the text, because it has not what he deemed full support from those MSS.
Touching brotherly love— They were remarkable for this; and though the apostle appears to have had this as a topic on which he
Ye do it toward all the brethren— Ye not only love one another at Thessalonica, but ye love all the brethren in Macedonia; ye consider
That ye study to be quiet— Though in general the Church at Thessalonica was pure and exemplary, yet there seem to have been some
Walking along the skirt of the wood, he espied an old man coming out of it, laden with a burden of faggots; he accosted him and asked if he had not heard of the entertainment made that day by Hatem Tai. This was probably one of the points which were lacking in their faith, that he wished to go to Thessalonica to instruct them in.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again— ei gar?
The apostle is speaking of the thing indefinitely as to the time when it shall happen, but positively as to the ORDER that shall be then observed. Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment; which order shall be repeated by the archangel, who shall accompany it with the sound of the trump of God,.
Comfort one another with these words.— Strange saying! comfort a man with the information that he is going to appear before the
We may suppose that the judgment will now be set, and the books opened, and the dead judged out of the things written in those books. The apostle continues to speak of Christ’s coming to judgment, and the uncertainty of the time in which it shall take place, and the careless state of sinners, 1-3.
For they that sleep— Sleepers and drunkards seek the night season;
8, are the following: When the holy blessed God shall judge the Gentiles, it shall be in the night season, in which they shall be asleep in their transgressions; but when he shall judge the Israelites, it shall be in the day time, when they are occupied in the study of the law. It may be remarked, also, that it was accounted doubly scandalous, even among the heathen, to be drunk in the day time.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath— So then it appears that some were appointed to wrath, eiv orghn, to punishment; on this subject
But even this appointment to wrath does not signify eternal damnation; nothing of the kind is intended in the word. On these accounts the election of the Gentiles and the reprobation of the Jews still continue.
Who died for us— His death was an atoning sacrifice for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews
When the Jews were rejected, and appointed to wrath, then the Gentiles were elected, and appointed to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Gospel they gladly received, and continue to prize; while the remnant of the Jews continue, in all places of their dispersion, the same irreconcilable and blasphemous opponents of the Gospel of Christ. Who died for us— His death was an atoning sacrifice for theGentiles as well as for the Jews.
Comfort-one another— Rest assured that, in all times and
Both it and the word proistamenouv, the superintendents, refer to persons then actually employed in the work of God. These were all admonishers, teachers, and instructers of the people, devoting their time and talents to this important work.
Esteem them very highly in love— Christian ministers, who preach the whole truth, and labor in the word and doctrine, are entitled to
Esteem them very highly in love— Christian ministers, whopreach the whole truth, and labor in the word and doctrine, are entitled to. Shore up, prop them that are weak; strengthen those wings and companies that are likely to be most exposed, that they be not overpowered and broken in the day of battle.
Pray without ceasing.— Ye are dependent on God for every good; without him ye can do nothing; feel that dependence at all times, and
If the troops be irregular, and cannot in every respect be reduced to proper order and discipline, let not the officers lose their temper nor courage; let them do the best they can; God will be with them, and a victory will give confidence to their troops. Pray without ceasing.— Ye are dependent on God for everygood; without him ye can do nothing; feel that dependence at all times, and.
In every thing give thanks— For this reason, that all things work together for good to them that love God; therefore, every occurrence may
For this is the will of God— That ye should be always happy; that ye should ever be in the spirit of prayer; and that ye should profit by every occurrence in life, and be continually grateful and obedient; for gratitude and obedience are inseparably connected. Quench not the Spirit.— The Holy Spirit is represented as a fire,because it is his province to enlighten and quicken the soul; and to purge,.
Quench not the Spirit.— The Holy Spirit is represented as a fire, because it is his province to enlighten and quicken the soul; and to purge,
Prove all things— Whatever ye hear in these prophesyings or preachings, examine by the words of Christ, and by the doctrines which,
Do not drive your morality so near the bounds of evil as to lead even weak persons to believe that ye actually touch, taste, or handle it. And the very God of peace— That same God who is the author ofpeace, the giver of peace; and who has sent, for the redemption of the.
And the very God of peace— That same God who is the author of peace, the giver of peace; and who has sent, for the redemption of the
That the whole man is to be preserved to the coming of Christ, that body, soul, and spirit may be then glorified for ever with him. That in this state the whole man may be so sanctified as to be preserved.
Faithful is he that calleth you— In a great variety of places in his word God has promised to sanctify his followers, and his faithfulness
Pray for me.— Even apostles, while acting under an extraordinary mission, and enjoying the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, felt the necessity
In this way other parts of the sacred writings were disseminated through all the Churches of the Gentiles;. The end of the epistle: it was written from a city of the Athenians, and sent by the hand of Timotheus.
PREFACE
THESSALONIANS
Yet that was the true meaning of the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven. Besides all these, there is a day or coming of the Lord to judge the world, and to put an end to the present state of things.
SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE
Your faith groweth exceedingly— The word uperauxanei signifies to grow luxuriantly, as a good and healthy tree planted in a good
Faith is one of the seeds of the kingdom; this the apostle had sowed and watered, and God gave an abundant increase. A manifest token of the righteousness judgement of God— Thepersecutions and tribulations which you endure, are a manifest proof that.
A manifest token of the righteousness judgement of God— The persecutions and tribulations which you endure, are a manifest proof that
We ourselves glory in you in the Churches of God— We hold you up as an example of what the grace of God, can produce when. The words, however, may be understood in another sense, and will form this maxim: “The sufferings of the just, and the triumphs of the wicked, in this life, are a sure proof that there will be a future judgment, in which the wicked shall be punished and the righteous rewarded.
Seeing it is a righteous thing— Though God neither rewards nor punishes in this life in a general way, yet he often gives proofs of his
This maxim is not only true in itself, but it is most likely that this is the apostle’s meaning. Seeing it is a righteous thing— Though God neither rewards norpunishes in this life in a general way, yet he often gives proofs of his.
And to you who are troubled, rest with us— And while they have tribulation, you shall have that eternal rest which remains for the people of
In flaming fire— en flogi purov? In thunder and lightning, taking vengeance — inflicting just punishment on them that know not God
In thunder and lightning,taking vengeance — inflicting just punishment on them that know not God. I believe it should be read thus: “In that day, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired among all them that have believed; for our testimony was believed among you.” The Thessalonians had credited what the apostles had said and written, not only concerning Jesus Christ in general, but concerning the day of judgment in particular.
We pray-that our God would count you worthy— It is our earnest prayer that God would make you worthy, axiwsh , afford those
John: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2. Instead of toiv pisteuousin, them that believe, toiv pisteusasin, them that have believed, is the reading of ABCDEF, many others, the later Syriac, Slavonic, Vulgate, and Itala, with most of the Greek fathers.
That the name of our Lord— This is the great end of your Christian calling, that Jesus who hath died for you may have his passion
Of the day of general judgment he had spoken before, and said that it should come as a thief in the night, i.e. As that the day of Christ is at hand.— In the preface to this epistle I have given a general view of the meaning of the phrase the coming of Christ.
Who opposeth and exalteth— He stands against and exalts himself above all Divine authority, and above every object of adoration, and every
The son of destruction; the same epithet that is given to Judas Iscariot, John 17:12, where see the note. It is also remarkable that the wicked Jews are styled by Isaiah, Isaiah 1:4, mytyjçm µynb benim mashchithim, “children of perdition;”.
I told you these things— In several parts of this description of the man of sin, the apostle alludes to a conversation which had taken place
And now ye know what withholdeth— I told you this amongother things; I informed you what it was that prevented this man of sin,.
And now ye know what withholdeth— I told you this among other things; I informed you what it was that prevented this man of sin,
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work— There is a system of corrupt doctrine, which will lead to the general apostasy, already in
Whose coming is after the working of Satan— The operation of God’s Spirit sends his messengers; the operation of Satan’s spirit sends
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness— With every art that cunning can invent and unrighteousness suggest, in order to delude
That they all might be damned— ∆Ina kriqwsi? So that they may all be condemned who believed not the truth when it was proclaimed
That Spirit was to sanctify their souls-produce an inward holiness, which was to lead to all outward conformity to God. They were to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ — that state of felicity for which they were fitted, by being saved here from their sins, and by being sanctified by the Spirit of God.
See Clarke on “2 Thessalonians 2:13”}
Therefore, brethren, stand fast— Their obtaining eternal glory depended on their faithfulness to the grace of God; for this calling did not
And good hope through grace— The hope of the Gospel was the resurrection of the body, and the final glorification of it and the soul. Pardon and holiness they enjoyed, therefore they were no objects of hope; but the resurrection of the body and eternal glory were necessarily future; these they had in expectation; these they hoped for; and, through the grace which they had already received they had a good hope — a well-grounded expectation, of this glorious state.
Comfort your hearts— Keep your souls ever under the influence of his Holy Spirit: and stablish you — confirm and strengthen you in your
Hammond refers the apostasy to the defection of the primitive Christians to the Gnostic heresy; and supposes that, by the man of sin and son of perdition, Simon Magus is meant. The Greek word for worshipped is sebasma, alluding to the Greek title of the Roman.
He should likewise practice all other wicked acts of deceit; should be guilty of the most impious frauds and impositions upon mankind; but
If these two clauses refer to two distinct and different events, the meaning manifestly is, that the Lord Jesus shall gradually consume him with the free preaching and publication of his word; and shall utterly destroy him at his second coming, in the glory of his Father, with all the holy angels. If these two clauses relate to one and the same event, it is a pleonasm very usual in the sacred, as well as other oriental writings; and the purport plainly is, that the Lord Jesus shall destroy him with the greatest facility, when he shall be revealed from heaven, as the apostle has expressed it in the preceding chapter.
And indeed it is a just and righteous judgment of God, to give them over to vanities and lies in this world, and to condemnation in the
7, and 8, particularly in view, he collates his words with those of the prophet in the following way:—. Only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Unreasonable and wicked men— The word atopwn, which we translate unreasonable, signifies rather disorderly, unmanageable; persons
And we have confidence— We have no doubt of God’s kindness towards you; he loves you, and will support you: and we can confide in
That ye withdraw yourselves— Have no fellowship with those who will not submit to proper discipline; who do not keep their place;
We behaved not ourselves disorderly— ouk htakthsamen? We did not go out of our rank — we kept our place, and discharged all its duties
That-they work, and eat their own bread.— Their own bread, because earned by their own honest industry. The apostle’s command is a cure for such; and the Church of God should discountenance such, and disown them.
If any man obey not— They had disobeyed his word in the first epistle, and the Church still continued to bear with them; now he tells the
Be not weary in well-doing.— While ye stretch out no hand of relief to the indolent and lazy, do not forget the real poor — the genuine representatives of an impoverished Christ; and rather relieve a hundred undeserving objects, than pass by one who is a real object of charity. If any man obey not— They had disobeyed his word in the firstepistle, and the Church still continued to bear with them; now he tells the.
Count him not as an enemy— Consider him still more an enemy to himself than to you; and admonish him as a brother, though you have
Witness the great mass of the people of England, who by their dependence on the poor rates are, from being laborious, independent, and respect able, become idle, profligate, and knavish; the propagators and perpetrators of crime; a discredit to the nation, and a curse to society. Christians are the temple of God, and the temple of God has the Divine presence in it.
The salutation of Paul with mine own hand— It is very likely that Paul employed an amanuensis generally, either to write what he
May you ever continue to be his Church, that the Lord God may dwell among you. I have often had occasion to observe that the subscriptions at the end of the sacred books are not of Divine origin; they are generally false; and yet some have quoted them as making a part of the sacred test, and have adduced them in support of some favourite opinions.
TIMOTHY
When the apostle wrote his First Epistle to Timothy, “he hoped to come to him soon,” chap. It is thought that, if the First Epistle to Timothy was written after the apostle’s release, he could not with any propriety have said to Timothy, chap.
FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE
TIMOTHY
Paul an apostle-by the commandment of God— We have already seen that the term apostolov, apostle, literally signifies a person sent
My own son in the faith— Brought to salvation through Christ by my ministry alone. In the faith— The word pistiv, faith, is taken here for the whole of the Christian religion, faith in Christ being its essential characteristic.
I besought thee— The apostle had seen that a bad seed had been sown in the Church; and, as he was obliged to go then into Macedonia, he
PEACE, the consequence of this manifested mercy, peace of conscience, and peace with God; producing internal happiness, quietness, and assurance. I besought thee— The apostle had seen that a bad seed had beensown in the Church; and, as he was obliged to go then into Macedonia, he.
Neither give heed to fables— Idle fancies; things of no moment;
Men were not to be saved by virtue of the privileges or piety of their ancestors. Now the end of the commandment is charity— These genealogicalquestions lead to strife and debate; and the dispensation of God leads to.
Now the end of the commandment is charity— These genealogical questions lead to strife and debate; and the dispensation of God leads to
Now the scope of the charge to be given by thee to these teachers is, that, instead of inculcating fables and genealogies, they inculcate love to God and man, proceeding from a pure heart, and directed by a good conscience, and nourished by unfeigned faith in the Gospel doctrine. Teachers of the law— To be esteemed or celebrated as rabbins; tobe reputed cunning in solving knotty questions and enigmas, which.
Teachers of the law— To be esteemed or celebrated as rabbins; to be reputed cunning in solving knotty questions and enigmas, which
Turned aside unto vain jangling— The original term, mataiologian, signifies empty or vain talking; discourses that turn to no profit; a great many words and little sense; and that sense not worth the pains of hearing. But we know that the law is good— The law as given by God, isboth good in itself and has a good tendency.
The law is not made for a righteous man— There is a moral law as well as a ceremonial law: as the object of the latter is to lead us to
This is similar to what the apostle had asserted, Romans 7:12-16: The law is holy; and the. Now those who did not use the law in reference to these ends, did not use it lawfully — they did not construe it according to its original design and meaning.
For whoremongers— pornoiv? Adulterers, fornicators, and prostitutes of all sorts
According to the glorious Gospel— The sound doctrine mentioned above, which is here called euaggelion thv doxhv tou
I thank Christ— I feel myself under infinite obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, endunamwsanti, who hath endued me with
A blasphemer— Speaking impiously and unjustly of Jesus, his doctrine, his ways, and his followers
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— This is one of the most glorious truths in the book of God; the most important that ever reached the human ear, or can be entertained by the heart of man. And it is very probable that the apostle refers to those in whom the grace and mercy of God were, at the first promulgation of the Gospel, manifested: and comparing himself with all these he could with propriety say, wn prwtov eimi, of whom I am the first; the first who, from a blasphemer, persecutor (and might we not add murderer? see the part he took in the martyrdom of Stephen,) became a preacher of that Gospel which I had persecuted.
Now unto the King eternal— This burst of thanksgiving and gratitude to God, naturally arose from the subject then under his pen and
War a good warfare— The trials and afflictions of the followers of God are often represented as a warfare or campaign. Holding faith— All the truths of the Christian religion, firmlybelieving them, and fervently proclaiming them to others.
Holding faith— All the truths of the Christian religion, firmly believing them, and fervently proclaiming them to others
Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander— Who had the faith but thrust it away; who had a good conscience through believing, but made
He who professes to believe that God will absolutely keep him from falling finally, and neglects. He who lives by the moment, walks in the light, and maintains his communion with God, is in no danger of apostasy.
I exhort-that, first of all— Prayer for the pardon of sin, and for obtaining necessary supplies of grace, and continual protection from God,
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life— We thus pray for the government that the public peace may be preserved. Bad rulers have power to do much evil; we pray that they may be prevented from thus using their power.
This is good and acceptable— Prayer for all legally constituted authorities is good in itself, because useful to ourselves and to the public at
We pray to God, not only for ourselves, but for all mankind, and particularly for the emperors.”. Good rulers have power to do much good; we pray that their authority may be ever preserved and well directed.
Who will have all men to be saved— Because he wills the salvation of all men; therefore, he wills that all men should be prayed for
Who will have all men to be saved— Because he wills thesalvation of all men; therefore, he wills that all men should be prayed for.
There is one God— Who is the maker, governor, and preserver of all men, of every condition, and of every nation, and equally wills the
To be testified in due time.— The original words, to marturion kairoiv idioiv, are not very clear, and have been understood variously. This is the doctrine which is reserved for its own times;” that is, adds he, quoe suo tempore in omni terrarum orbe tradetur, “the doctrine which in its own time shall be delivered to all the inhabitants of the earth.” Here he.
I am ordained a preacher— I am set apart, eteqhn, appointed
This, in the times which seemed best to the Divine wisdom, was to be testified to every nation, and people, and tongue. The apostles had begun this testimony; and, in the course of the Divine economy, it has ever since been gradually.
I will therefore— Seeing the apostle had his authority from Christ, and spoke nothing but what he received from him, his boulomai, I will, is
But the apostle probably alludes to the Jewish custom of laying their hands on the head of the animal which they brought for a sin-offering, confessing their sins, and then giving up the life of the animal as an expiation for the sins thus confessed. The holy hands refer to the Jewish custom of washing their hands before prayer; this was done to signify that they had put away all sin, and purposed to live a holy life.
In like manner also— That is, he wills or commands what follows, as he had commanded what went before
The costly raiment might refer to the materials out of which the raiment was made, and to the workmanship; the gold and pearls, to the ornaments on the raiment. They might follow the custom or costume of the country as to the dress itself, for nothing was ever more becoming than the Grecian stola, catastola, and zona; but they must not imitate the.
Nor to usurp authority— A woman should attempt nothing, either in public or private, that belongs to man as his peculiar function
Let the woman learn in silence— This is generally supposed to be a prohibition of women’s preaching. In this the chief part of the natural inferiority of woman is to be sought.
She shalt be saved in child-bearing— swqhsetai de dia thv teknogoniav? She shall be saved through child-bearing-she shall be saved
The salvation of the human race, through child-bearing, was intimated in the sentence passed on the serpent, Genesis 3:15: I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. The change in the number of the verb from the singular to the plural, which is introduced here, was designed by the apostle to show that he does not speak of Eve;.
This is a true saying— pistov o logov? This is a true doctrine
A bishop then must be blameless— Our term bishop comes from the Anglo-Saxon ([A.S.]), which is a mere corruption of the Greek. One whose delight is, to instruct the ignorant and those who are out of the way.
An eighth article in his character is, he must not be given to wine;
Griesbach has left it out of the text, in which it does not appear that it ever had a legitimate place. The word covetous, which we have below, expresses all the meaning of this; and it is not likely that the apostle would insert in the same sentence two words of the same meaning, because they were different in sound.
The fourteenth qualification of a Christian bishop is, that he ruleth well his own house; tou idiou oikou kalev proistamenon, one
But the apostle gives another reason: Lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. It is a substance, has a certain size, is light, can be the sport of the wind, but has nothing in it but air.
The sixteenth requisite is, that he should have a good report of them which are without— That he should be one who had not been
Let these-be proved— Let them not be young converts, or persons lately brought to the knowledge of the truth. Even so must their wives be grave— I believe the apostle does notmean here the wives either of the bishops or deacons in particular, but the.
Even so must their wives be grave— I believe the apostle does not mean here the wives either of the bishops or deacons in particular, but the
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife— This is the same that is required of the bishops. The same office, but not with the same powers nor abuse, is found in the patriarch of the Greek Church, and the archbishop of the Protestant Church.
These things write I— That is: I write only these things; because I hope to come unto thee shortly
The house of God is the Church of the living God; WHICH (Church) IS the pillar and ground of the truth. Lastly, others refer the whole to to thv eusebeiav musthrion, the mystery of godliness; and translate the clause thus: The mystery of godliness is the pillar and ground of the truth; and, without controversy, a great thing.
And, without controversy— kai omologoumenev? And
This gives a very good sense, but it is not much favored by the arrangement of the words in the original. In the latter times— This does not necessarily imply the last ages of the world, but any times consequent to those in which the Church then lived.
Speaking lies in hypocrisy— Persons pretending, not only to Divine inspiration, but also to extraordinary degrees of holiness,
And the heathens supposed that even in the other world they bear such marks; and by these the infernal judges knew the quantum of their vices, and appointed the degrees of their punishment. There is a saying much like that of the apostle in the invective of Claudian against Rufinus, whom he supposes to be thus addressed by Rhadamanthus, one of the infernal judges:—.
Forbidding to marry— These hypocritical priests pretending that a single life was much more favorable to devotion, and to the perfection of
For every creature of God is good— That is: Every creature which God has made for man’s nourishment is good for that purpose, and to be
For it is sanctified by the word of God— dia logou qeou? By the command of God; probably referring to Genesis 1:29: And God said, I
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things— Show the Church that, even now, there is danger of this apostasy; put them on their guard against it; for the forewarned are half armed. Nourished up in the words of faith— By acting as I command thee, thou wilt show that thou art a good minister of Jesus Christ, and that thou hast been nourished from thy youth upon the doctrines of faith.
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables— This seems to refer particularly to the Jews, whose Talmudical writings are stuffed with the
Those gymnastic exercises, so highly esteemed among the Greeks, are but little worth; they are but of short duration; they refer only to this life, and to the applause of men: but godliness has the promise of this life, and the life to come; it is profitable for all things; and for both time and eternity. This is a faithful saying— The truth of this doctrine none needdoubt; and every man has it in his power to put this to the proof.
For therefore we both labor— This verse was necessary to explain what he had before said; and here he shows that his meaning was
For therefore we both labor— This verse was necessary toexplain what he had before said; and here he shows that his meaning was.
These things command and teach.— Let it be the sum and substance of thy preaching, that true religion is profitable for both worlds;
The works of various scholars prove of how much consequence even the writings of heathen authors, chiefly those of Greece and Italy, are to the illustration of the sacred writings. Neglect not the gift that is in thee— The word carisma heremust refer to the gifts and graces of the Divine Spirit, which Timothy.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee— The word carisma here must refer to the gifts and graces of the Divine Spirit, which Timothy
Arabic and Syriac may be added with great advantage: the latter being in effect the language in which Christ and his apostles spoke and preached in Judea; and the former being radically the same with the Hebrew, and preserving many of the roots of that language, the derivatives of which often occur in the Hebrew Bible, but the roots never. And he who is best acquainted with the sacred records will avail himself of such helps, with gratitude both to God and man.
Meditate upon these things— tauta meleta? Revolve them frequently in thy mind; consider deeply their nature and importance; get
And has not the great idolatry of Christians, and the worship of the dead particularly, been diffused and advanced in the world by such. The monks then were the principal promoters of the worship of the dead in former times.
Rebuke not an elder— That is, an elderly person; for the word presbuterov is here taken in its natural sense, and signifies one advanced
The elder women as mothers— Treating them with the respect due to their age
Honor widows that are widows indeed.— One meaning of the word timaw, to honor, is to support, sustain, etc., Matthew 15:4, 5; and here it is most obviously to be taken in this sense. The words are not spoken of the widows only, but of the Church or its officers; it cannot be restricted to the widows, for the adjective anepilhptoi is both of the masculine and feminine gender.
But if any provide not for his own— His own people or relatives
Those of his own house— That is, his own family, or a poor widow or relative that lives under his roof. Nature dictates that to every one his own children and relatives should be most dear.” And Cicero, in Epist.
Taken into the number— Let her not be taken into the list of those for which the Church must provide. But some think that the apostle
Taken into the number— Let her not be taken into the list ofthose for which the Church must provide.
Well reported of for good works— Numbers being able to bear testimony, as the word implies, that she has not only avoided all sin, but
Lodged strangers— If she have been given to hospitality, freely contributing to the necessitous, when she had it in her power. The widow indeed may mean a person who was to be employed in some office in the Church; and Timothy is enjoined not to take any into that office unless she had been before remarkable for piety and humanity.
But the younger widows refuse— Do not admit those into this office who are under sixty years of age. Probably those who were received
It can hardly be supposed that any widow, unless she had considerable property, could have done the things enumerated in this verse, some of which would occasion no small expense. Having damnation— In the sense in which we use this word Iam satisfied the apostle never intended it.
Having damnation— In the sense in which we use this word I am satisfied the apostle never intended it. It is likely that he refers here to
The word is supposed to be derived from sterein, to remove, and hnia, the rein; and is a metaphor taken from a pampered horse, from whose mouth the rein has been.
And withal they learn to be idle— They do not love work, and they will not work
I will therefore that the younger women marry— As the preceding discourse has been about the younger widows, and this is an
It is no sin in any case to marry, bear children, and take care of a family; but it is a sin in every case to be idle persons, gadders about, tattlers, busybodies, sifting out and detailing family secrets, etc., etc. Slight deviations, in the first instance, from a right line, may lead at last to an infinite distance from Christ.
If any man or woman that believeth— If any Christian man or woman have poor widows, which are their relatives, let them relieve them
Macknight has remarked that, “in the first age, the name presbuterov, elder, was given to all who exercised any sacred office in the Church, as is plain from Acts 20:28, where the persons are called episkopoi, bishops, who, ver. Especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.— Those who not only preach publicly, but instruct privately, catechize, etc.
The Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox— This is a manifest proof that by timh, honor, in the preceding verse, the apostle
Because in the discharge of his office he must be at expense, in proportion to his diligence, in visiting and relieving the sick, in lodging and providing for strangers; in a word, in his being given to hospitality, which was required of every bishop or. The Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox— This is amanifest proof that by timh, honor, in the preceding verse, the apostle.
Against an elder— Be very cautious of receiving evil reports against those whose business it is to preach to others, and correct their
Every man should be dealt with in the Church as he will be dealt with at the judgment-seat of Christ. A minister of the Gospel, who, in the exercise of discipline in the Church, is swayed and warped by secular considerations, will be a curse rather than a blessing to the people of God.
Lay hands suddenly on no man— Do not hastily appoint any person to the sacred ministry: let the person be well proved before he
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine— The whole of this verse seems, to several learned critics and divines, strangely inserted in this
It was necessary that the work should be done in the Church at Ephesus which the apostle appointed to Timothy. Some of whose faith and piety he had the fullest knowledge, and whose usefulness in the Church was well known.
Likewise also the good works of some— Though those who are very holy and very useful in the Church cannot be unknown, yet there are
How the rich should behave themselves; and the use they should make of their property, 17-19. Let as many servants as are under the yoke— The word douloi here means slaves converted to the Christian faith; and the zugon, or yoke, is the state of slavery; and by despotai, masters, despots, we are to understand the heathen masters of those Christianized slaves.
And they that have believing masters— Who have been lately converted as well as themselves
Because those who are partakers of the benefit of your services are faithful and beloved; or it may apply to the servants who are partakers of many benefits from their Christian masters. Others think that benefit here refers to the grace of the Gospel, the common salvation of believing masters and slaves; but Dr.
If any man teach otherwise— It appears that there were teachers of a different kind in the Church, a sort of religious levellers, who preached
This is generally understood as referring to the master’s participation in the services of his slaves. If any man teach otherwise— It appears that there were teachersof a different kind in the Church, a sort of religious levellers, who preached.
He is proud— tetufwtai? He is blown up, or inflated with a vain opinion of his own knowledge; whereas his knowledge is foolishness, for
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds— Disputations that cannot be settled, because their partisans will not listen to the truth; and
Supposing that gain is godliness— Professing religion only for the sake of secular profit; defending their own cause for the emoluments it produced;. But godliness with contentment is great gain.— The wordgodliness, eusebeia, here, and in several other places of this epistle,.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.— The word godliness, eusebeia, here, and in several other places of this epistle,
Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.—
The love of money is the root of all evil— Perhaps it would bebetter to translate pantwn twn kakwn, of all these evils; i.e. Money is the root of no evil, nor is it an evil of any kind; but the love of it is the root of all the evils mentioned here.
But thou, O man of God— Thou, who hast taken God for thy portion, and art seeking a city that hath foundations, whose builder is the
Fight the good fight of faith— “Agonize the good agony.” Thou hast a contest to sustain in which thy honor, thy life, thy soul, are at
A good confession— The confession made by Christ before Pontius Pilate is, that he was Messiah the King; but that his kingdom was not of this world; and that hereafter he should be seen coming in the clouds of heaven to judge the quick and dead. Until the appearing of our Lord— Hand it down pure, and let thy conduct be a comment on it, that it may continue in the world and in the Church till the coming of Christ.
Who only hath immortality— All beings that are not eternal must be mutable; but there can be only one eternal Being, that is God; and
All these are excellent, but they are stars of the twelfth magnitude before the apostolic SUN. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust— This isanother repetition of the apostolic charge.
Which some professing— Which inspired knowledge some pretending to, have set up Levitical rites in opposition to the great
IN reviewing the whole of this epistle, I cannot help considering it of the first consequence to the Church of God. But what is that learning which may be a useful handmaid to religion in the ministry of the Gospel.
