2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:1

PRomise of life] Eternall life hid in Christ, which God hath promised to all that beleeve in him.

2 Timothy 1:2

beloved sonne] He calleth Timothie his sonne in a naturall, civill and spirituall, or Ecclesiasticall respect: First, in a naturall, because Paul was now aged, and Timothie but a young man. Secondly, in a civill or morall, because Paul affected him as if he were his own sonne, and Timothie served him as a sonne doth his father; Phil. 2. 22. Thirdly, in a spirituall or Ecclesiasticall, because Paul ordained him a Minister of the Gospel. See 1 Timothy 1:2.

2 Timothy 1:3

forefathers] Not his immediate forefathers, who bred him up in Pharisaisme, but his Ancestours Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, &c. who served God in the same true religion, for substance, which the Apostle now professeth. Acts 23:1. and Acts 24:16.

with pure] Gr. in pure.

2 Timothy 1:5

call] Gr. calling.

2 Timothy 1:6

stirre up] Gr. kindle again; or, quicken, as fire burneth under ashes.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth to rekindle, or revive; for the gift of God is as it were a certain lively flame kindled in our hearts, which the flesh and the Devill go about to put out; and therefore we on the contrary must labour, as much as we can, to foster and keep it burning. In the metaphor the Apostle seemeth to allude to the type of the Priests in the Old Testament, by whose ministerie the holy fire on the Altar was cherished, (that it might not goe out) and as it slaked, blowne to a brighter flame.

the gift] Some by this gift understand the gift of Miracles, which he received by the imposition of the Apostles hands; and that by the laying hands of the Presbyterie, 1 Timothy 4:14. he was admitted into the holy ministerie; but because there is no proof in Scripture, or undoubted Antiquity, that Timothie had the gift of Miracles, it is more probable, that by gift is here meant that Ghostly power or office which Timothie received at his ordination, by the laying on of the Apostles hands on him, in the presence of the Presbyterie, who all gave consent thereunto, and testified it by putting their hands upon him also. 1 Timothy 4:14.

2 Timothy 1:7

spirit of fear] The meaning is, rouze up the gifts of God in thee, and suffer it not to be slaked or abated by carnall fear, for such a fear doth in no wise proceed from the working of the Spirit, but is quite contrary to the same which the Apostle doth mention here; lest Timothie might be affrighted with the affliction of the Church, and of Pauls in particular.

but of power] Of courage and resolution to go through with the work of the ministerie, notwithstanding all oppositions and dangers.

of love] Of a holy love of God and Christ, wherewith the faithfull being inflamed, do chearfully undergoe all manner of troubles and adversities for his sake.

sound minde] Whereby the holy Ghost doth reduce the troubled minde to tranquillitie, and banish all turbulent passions, such as fear is. Or the spirit of moderation and discretion, that we bring not causlesse troubles upon our selves, and when they come upon us, break not out into rage or impatiencie.

2 Timothy 1:8

afflictions of the Gospel] Be a chearfull partner with me of those troubles and afflictions which follow the profession of the Gospel. These are called afflictions of the Gospel, because as Christ suffereth in the persecution of his Members, so the Gospel after a sort suffereth, when the preachers thereof are opposed, disgraced, silenced, and imprisoned, or any way hindered from the free and powerfull preaching thereof.

2 Timothy 1:9

not according to our works] See Titus 3:5. Not for the the merit of our works, but for his own mercies sake; or, not according to works done by us in time, or foreseen by God before the world was; for these works, as in time they flowed from the grace of God, so they were foreseen likewise no otherwise then as effects of his grace in us, and consequently not as causes or inducements to God, to elect us to eternall life.

before the world began] Gr. secular times, or, everlasting. See Ephesians 1:4. Titus 1:2.

2 Timothy 1:10

who hath abolished death] By taking away the fear and sting of the naturall death in all true beleevers, 1 Corinthians 15:55. Hebrews 2:15. and freeing them from the guilt and punishment of the eternall and second death. Revelation 2:11. and Revelation 20:6.

life and immortality to light] Hath given us a full and clear sight of immortalitie, whereof before we had but as a glimpse; or shewed us a clear way to life and immortalitie.

2 Timothy 1:11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, &c.] See 1 Timothy 2:7.

2 Timothy 1:12

beleeved] Or, trusted.

keep that which I have committed] Either my precious soul which I have committed to his care and custodie to bring it forth glorious at that day of his appearing: Or, my eternall life, happinesse and crown of glory, which I have as it were deposited with him by faith and hope.

2 Timothy 1:13

form of sound words] Gr. wholesome, or, healthfull.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, such as conduce to the health of our souls, rather wholesom then delicate; or words not tainted with, nor savouring of any errour or heresie, false or corrupt doctrine.

2 Timothy 1:14

committed unto thee] See 1 Timothy 6:20.

by the Holy Ghost] Though it be a hard thing to do it, considering what enemies lie in wait to rob us of it: yet the Spirit of God is mightie, who hath endued us with power and vertue to keep it.

2 Timothy 1:15

turned away from me] Leaving me in my trouble and affliction, and being ashamed of my bonds.

2 Timothy 1:16

my chain] See Ephesians 6:20.

2 Timothy 1:17

sought me out] By this it appears, that Saint Paul was not in prison, for then Onesiphorus needed not to have made any great search to finde him; yet was he not free, but committed to the custody of the keeper, with whom he might go abroad to dispatch his affairs; and therefore in the verse going before, he speaketh not of chains in the plurall number, but of a chain in the singular, with which he was tyed to the souldier that kept him. Vid. Senec. l. 1 de tranquil. an. c. 10. Eadem catena tam reum quam militem tenc.