15 And that from thy childhood thou hast known the sacred scriptures, which having foretold the doctrine, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ, exactly as they have come to pass, are able to make thee wise to salvation, by confirming thee in the faith which hath Christ Jesus for its object.

16 I am calumniated as contradicting Moses and the prophets. But I believe, That the whole sacred scripture is divinely inspired, and is profitable for teaching the doctrines of the gospel, for confuting those who err therefrom, for correcting those who sin, and for instructing all in righteousness,

17 That the Christian minister, by the light derived from the Jewish

"Spirit of God: And that they were the penmen of the Spirit, to commit to writing just what he dictated.-2. Others think with more latitude; "and allow indeed that Moses received the Law from God; and that the "prophets were inspired by the Spirit, to foretell future events which lay "out of the reach of human foresight. But that they were left to express "themselves in their own words and phrases; in which they give a faithful "account of what the Spirit dictated to them, 2 Pet. i. 20, 21. But as to "what was handed down by authentic tradition; or the facts with which "they themselves were thoroughly acquainted, they could, as faithful his❝torians, commit them to writing, and that without any extraordinary in❝spiration. And their account, as far as our present copies are exact, may "be depended upon as satisfactory and authentic." He adds, "If the "Spirit presided, strengthened their memories, and preserved them from "mistakes, this last opinion may not be much amiss." See 1 Cor. ii. 13. note 1. 2 Tim. i. 13. note 2. and Ess. 1. note 2.

Ver. 17.-1. That the man of God (See 1 Tim. vi. 11. note.) may be perfect, &c. The apostle's encomium on the Jewish scriptures consists of two parts. Their divine inspiration, and their usefulness for illustrating the gospel revelation; so that a Christian minister, who rightly understands them, is thereby well fitted for every part of his work. Our Lord also on various occasions bare testimony to the Jewish scriptures, and to their connexion with the gospel. Luke xxiv. 27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself. Also he commanded his disciples to search these scriptures, because

furnished unto all good ανθρωπος, προς παν αγαθον εξηρτισμενος.

works.

εργον

they testified of him, John v. 39. see ver. 46. What then are we to think of those teachers, who are at so much pains to disjoin the Christian revelation from the Jewish, as if the latter were not of divine original, and had no connexion with the gospel; and instead of illustrating and confirming the gospel, were rather an incumbrance to it?-In this encomium of the Jewish scriptures the duties of a Christian minister are declared to be, 1. To teach the people the true doctrine of the gospel. 2. To confute all errors contrary to true doctrine. 3. To correct, by proper admonitions, reproofs, and

CHAPTER IV.

View and Illustration of the Solemn Charge given to Timothy in this Chapter.

HAVING in the preceding chapter explained to Timothy the duties of his office as an evangelist, the apostle now solemnly charged him in the presence of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is to judge the living and the dead at his second coming, to be diligent and faithful in all the duties of his ministry, by preaching true doctrine, confuting gainsayers, rebuking sinners, and exhorting, both the teachers and the people under his care, to behave properly in every respect, ver. 1, 2. -because the time was approaching in which the people would not endure wholesome doctrine; but having itching ears which required to be tickled with the elegancies of language, would for that purpose multiply to themselves teachers, ver. 3.—and would listen to fables, loathing the solid doctrine of the gospel, ver. 4. Next he exhorted Timothy to watch at all times to oppose the entrance of false doctrine and corrupt practices, without being intimidated by the evils to which he might expose himself by his fidelity; and to do the work of an evangelist in such a manner as to shew himself an approved minister of Christ,

OLD TRANSLATION.

GREEK TEXT.

CHAP. IV. 1 I charge

1 Διαμαρτυρομαι ουν Ɛ

thee, therefore, before God, γω ενωπιον του Θεου, και του

thoroughly fitted for every revelation, may be perfect in the good work.

knowledge of the things he is appointed to teach, and thoroughly fitted for discharging every part of the good work he is engaged in.

censures, those who openly transgress the precepts of the gospel. 4. To direct and encourage all to follow a righteous course of life.—Lastly, in this encomium of the Jewish scriptures the apostle contradicted the Judaizers, who affirmed that the law was contrary to the gospel.

ver. 5. Then told him, that he was thus earnest in his exhortations to him, because the time of his departure was come, ver. 6.—and because he himself had combatted the good combat, had finished the race, and had all along preserved the faith pure, ver. 7.-and was to be rewarded as a conqueror in the good combat, with a crown of righteousness by Christ the righteous judge of the world; so that if Timothy proved equally courageous and faithful in discharging the duties of his ministry, he might expect the same reward from Christ, who will bestow a crown of righteousness on all, who, conscious of their own integrity, long for his appearing to judge the world, ver. 8.

In the remaining part of the chapter, the apostle gave Timothy a particular account of his own affairs, and of the behaviour both of his friends and enemies, ver. 9.-18.-Then desired him to salute Prisca and Aquila, and the family of Onesiphorus, ver. 19.-And because he had left Erastus at Corinth, and Trophimus at Miletus, and all his assistants had fled from the city, he begged him to come to Rome before winter. Then gave him the salutations of Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia, Christians of singular eminence, and the salutations of all the brethren in Rome, with whom he was allowed to have any intercourse, ver. 20, 21.-and concluded with giving him, and the brethren at Ephesus, his apostolical benediction, ver. 22.

and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-surfering and doctrine.

3 For the time will

endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts

2 Κηρύξον τον λογον, επιςηθι ευκαίρως, ευκαίρως, ακαίρως ελεγξον, επιτίμησον, παραχαλεσον εν παση μακροθυμια και διδαχη.

3 Εςαι γαρ καιρος, ότε

come when they will not της υγιαινούσης διδασκαλιας ουκ ανέξονται αλλα κατα ἑshall they heap to them. τας επιθυμιας τας ιδιας selves teachers, having αυτοις επισωρεύσουσι διδασ itching cars ; καλους, κνηθόμενοι την ακο

ην

Ver. 1. 1. In the presence of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ. The persons in whose presence the apostle gave this charge, Timothy could not but exceedingly revere, as they were always present with him beholding his conduct, and were to be his judges at the last day. This solemn charge the apostle gave to Timothy, not because he suspected him of any unfaithfulness, but to shew his own extreme solicitude for the preservation of the true doctrine, and for the prosperity of the church of Christ; also to leave on record an injunction to the ministers of Christ in succeeding ages, to be faithful and diligent in all the duties of their function. They ought therefore to consider it with attention, and should make a due application of it to themselves.

Ver. 2. 1. With all long-suffering. This virtue the apostle often recom. mended to Timothy 2 Tim. ii. 20. iii. 16.; whereas in directing Titus how to teach, he does not mention long-suffering or patience. Perhaps Timothy being younger than Titus, was of a more ardent spirit which needed to be restrained: Or, as Benson suspects, the obstinacy of the persons with whom Titus had to do, might occasion this difference in the apostle's exhortations. Ver. 3.-1. For there will be a time. The apostle means the time in which the apostasy would work more effectually than it was then doing. He therefore desired Timothy to be diligent in preaching, while he might be heard.

2. When they will not endure wholesome teaching. This prophetic description of the temper of Christians during the apostasy, hath been verified to

art well acquainted with the Jewish scriptures, in which the gospel is both explained and confirmed; I charge thee therefore in the presence of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his second appearing, when his kingdom shall be displayed in all its glory :

2 Preach the gospel doctrine in purity; Be constant and earnest in preaching it, whether it be seasonable or unseasonable to thyself; Confute false teachers, rebuke sinners, exhort all under thy care, with the greatest patience when teaching them. 3 Thou oughtest to be very faithful and diligent in these duties now, For there will be a time when the people will not endure wholesome teaching, but having itching ears, which must be tickled, they will, by the motions of their own peculiar lusts, multiply to themselves teachers, who to gain their favour will sooth them in their vices.

an astonishing degree. For then the generality of the people nauseated the wholesome doctrines of true piety and sound morality, inculcated in the gospel: Then the monks and friars, in all their sermons, spake of nothing but of miracles performed at the tombs of martyrs and confessors, or, by their relicts: And then the people delighted to hear nothing from their teachers but fables of that sort, as the apostle foretold, ver. 4. because by these they were confirmed in the belief that the superstitious practices which their teachers recommended, would procure them the pardon of their sins, however atrocious, and admission into heaven, notwithstanding they continued in sin to the end of their lives. See 1 Tim. iv. 2. note 1.

3. According to their own lusts, heap up to themselves teachers. Some have quoted this text as a proof that the people ought not to have the choice of their own ministers. And it must be acknowledged, that when the people are of the character here described, such a power would be most hurtful to them. In the expression, heap up to themselves teachers according to their lusts, it is insinuated, 1. That the people would choose those teachers whose 42

VOL. IV.