THE

FAMILY EXPOSITOR.

A

PARAPHRASE AND NOTES

ON

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE

TO

TIMOTHY.

SECT. I.

The Apostle begins his epistle, after proper salutations, with expres

sions of his affection to Timothy, and general acknowledgments of his joy in, and dependence upon, the grace of that gospel which he was employed to preach. 2 Tim. I. 1--12.

SECT.

i.

sus.

2 TIM. I. 1.

2 TIMOTHY I. 1. PAUL an apostle of

Jesus Christ by the I PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will will of God, according of God (whose eternal counsels, with refer- 2 Tim.

. to the promise of life, ence to me, were manifested in that wonderful I. 1. which is in Christ Je- manner in which I was set apart for the service

of the gospel, agreeably to the promise of eternal
life, which is given us in Christ Jesus, and by

which I am animated in all any labours and syf-
2 To Timothy my ferings), Send this second epistle to Timothy, 2
dearly beloved son :

and my beloved son ; whose humble and faithful sergrace, mercy,

peace vices in the gospel I have so long proved, and

whom I love with the affection of a father. Nor
can ! express this affection better than by wish-
I

a

1.

10 Paul thanks God for the faith of Timothy and his ancestors, sect. ing, as I most sincerely do, that grace, mercy, peace from God the and peace, may attend thee, from God, the gra- sus our Lord.

Father, and Christ Je. cious and merciful Father of all true believers, 2 Tim. 1. 2. and from Christ Jesus, his Son and our Lord,

who is also our Peace. 3 I give thanks unto this blessed God, whom I 3 I thank God whom serve, after the example of (my) pionis progeni- thers with pure con

I tors, with a pure conscience, that through his science, that without goodness, laying the case upon my heart, I am ceasing I have remem. incessantly mindful of thee in my prayers night buance of thee in my

prayers night and day; and day, so that I scarce ever rise up in the morning, or lie down in the evening, without allow

ing thee a share in my devout remembrance ; 4 Desiring earnestly to see thee, as I am mindful of 4 Greatly desiring to thy tears, which Hoved so plentifully at our last see thee, being mind

ful tears, I separation, that I might be filled with joy, in an may be filled with joy:

interview with so dear and amiable a friend. 5 And indeed thou hast, as it were, an heredi. 5 When I call to

remembrance the 11tary title to my regard, as I also keep in remem

feigned faith that is in bránce the unulissembled faith which is in thee, thee, which dwelt first and which first dwelt in thy grandmother Lois, in thy grandmother and thy mother Eunice, who believed in Cbrist Lois, and thy mother

Eunice ; and I am per. before thee, and have been happily instrumental suaded that in thee also. in communicating to thy heart those good impressions which they felt on their own; and I am persuaded that sit is in thee too, and that

thou still retainest it in the midst of all opposi. 6 tion : For which cause I am the more encou

6 Wherefore I put raged to remind thee of stirring up the gift of thee in remembrance, God", which is in thee by the imposition of my gift of God, which is handsb; whereby those miraculous communica- in thee, by the putting tions of the Spirit were imparted to thee, which on of my bands. it will be thy duty to cherish, by frequently engaging in those devotional exercises and active

services for which they are intended to qualify 7 thee. Exert thyself therefore with cheerful- ✓ For God hath not

ness and boldness, without dreading any opposi- given us the spirit of tion that may arise ; for God hath not given us the fear; but of power, and

of love, and of a sound spirit of cowardice and fear, but of courage, and mind. of love, and of wisdom; and if we conduct our

i.

And recommends to him courage in defence of the gospel. 11

selves prudently, under the influences of a spi. sect.
rit of universal love, we may hope that his Spi-
rit will work mightily in us, to fit us for those

2 Tim. services which his Providence may point out. I. 7. 8 Be not thou there. Be not therefore ashamed of that sacred truth, 8 fore ashamed of the which is the testimony of our Lord, taught by his testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: mouth, confirmed by his death and resurrection, bat be thou partaker of and the descent of his Spirit ; nor of me, whoam the amictions of the now his prisoner ; but resolutely own thy regospel, according to he power of God; gard to me, and take thy share in the afflictions

which may lie in thy way, while bearing a cou-
rageous testimony to the truth of the gospel, ac-

cording to the evidence derived to it from the
9 Who frath saved miraculous power of God ; Who hath saved 9
us and called us with

us from that ruin into which the world hath
an holy calling, not ac.
cording to our works, fallen by its fatal apostacy, and hath called [us]
but according to his out from the rest of mankind by an holy calling,
owo purpose and grace not according to any distinguished merit of our
which was given us in
Chţist Jesus before the own works, but according to his own purpose,
world begau,

and those rich overflowings of grace given to us
in Christ Jesus from eternal ages d, as he was
appointed, in the everlasting and immutable

counsels of God, to be a Redeemer and a Savi10 But is now made our unto us.

But this long concealed grace 10 manifest by the appearing of our Saviour is now made manifest by the illustrious appearJesus Christ, who hath ance of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who by what abolished death, and he has done and suffered in human flesh for the hath brought life and immortal ty to light, salvation of his faithful servants, hath in effect througle the gospel : abolished death, has deposed it from its tyranni

cal empire, and thrown a light on the important
doctrine of life and immortality by the gospel";

which

d Given to us in Christ Jesus from eter. on this subject, in his Divine Legation, nal ages.] I see no reason for rendering Vol. I. and what is said upon it, in the last it, as Dr. Whitby would do, according to edition of the critical enquiry into the opihis purpose before all ages, and the grace nions of the ancient philosophers, has done given us in Christ Jesus.

The grace might abundantly more than any thing else to be said to be given us in Christ, as the vindicate the propriety of this expression ; Father stipulated with him, through his and I must refer to these learned and in hand, as well as for his sake, to give us that genious writers for the most satisfactory grace which we do actually receive. commentary on these words of the apos

e Thrown a light upon life and immor- tle. But the learned and pious Dr. Hodges tality.) Life and immortality is put by a (who, so far as I can judge, has given us usual Hebraism for immortal life, as Arch- a greater variety of new and plausible inbishop Tillotson well observes, Vol. III. terpretations of scripture than any other p. 112.) in his discourse on these words; divine in the Hutchinsonian scheme) conin which he has shewn, how uncertain the tends, that the word applapolay ought to be heathens were as to the doctrines of a rendered incorruption, and that Christ himfuture state of retribution, and the com- self is to be understood both by life and incorparative obscurity of that light in which ruption; so that the text must refer to his it was placed under the Old Testament, throwing light on Psal. xvi. 10, 11, and The former article is much illustrated by on other scriptures, where it was foretold Dr. Whitby's learned and excellent note that the Messiah should be the light of the But wbat Mr. Warburton has written up- world, and bestow incorruptible life upon

other VOL. X.

B

i.

teacher of the Gen

12

Reflections on the discovery
SECT. which gives us a more express assurance and

more lively view of it than any former dispen2 Tim. sation had ever done, or could possibly do. 1. 11. This is that important message of God to men, 11 Whereunto I am

for the proclamation and confirmation of which appointed a preacher, I was appointed an herald and upostle, and par- and an apostle, and a ticularly bad it in my charge, while others were eiles.

more immediately sent to the circumcision, to 12be myself a teacher of the Gentiles : For 12 For the which which cause I also suffer these hard things, which cause I also suffer these

nevertheless press me in this state of confinement; but, I am not ashamed ; for though my condition

may seem infamous, I am I know whom I have not ashamed of these bonds, or any of the re

believed, and am perproaches and insults with which they are at: to keep that which i tended : for I know to whom I have trusted all have committed unto my most important concerns, and am folly pero him against that day. suaded that he is well able to keep that precious immortal soul which I have deposited with him, even unto that great and important day when the promised salvation shall be completed'.

suaded that he is able

IMPROVEMENT.

Ver.

Who, that attentively considers the holy calling with which 8,9 we are called, according to the grace given us in Christ Jesus,

can endure the thought of being ashamed of Christ's gospel, or any of his servants, to whatever difficulties tbey may be exposed,

with whatever infamy they may be loaded ? For ever adored be 10 that Prince of life, who hath deposed death, from his throne ; who

hath enlightened, by rays reflected from his own beautiful and re

splendent countenance, the regions of the invisible world, over 12 which so dark a veil had before been spread? Let our eyes be fixed more and more on this illustrious Object, and confiding in

the

i.

Of immortality by the gospel.

13 the power and grace of Christ, let us all immediately and daily sect. commit to him that invaluable jewel of an immortal soul, which God hath given us. We may surely survey it with a mixture of delight and terror, till we have thus provided for its safety ; and then may that terror be allowed to disappear, and give place to a rational delight, and we may justly congratulate ourselves while we adore our Saviour.

Let the proclamation of this gospel be most welcome to us, and let us call up all the strength and vigour of our souls to assert and advance it ; for God hath given us the Spirit, not of fear, 7 but of courage, sobriety, and charity.

Whatever gifts we have received, let us stir them up to their proper use, and let one generation of Christians deliver down to another, a sense 6 of the excellency of their holy religion. Pious women may take encouragement from the success of Lois and Eunice on Timothy, who proved so excellent and useful a minister ; as per- 5 haps some of the worthiest and most valuable ministers the church of Christ has ever been able to boast of, bave had reason to bless God for those early impressions wbich were made upon their mind by the religious instructions of persons in the same relations.

To conclude, let us learn, by the repeated example of the as postle, to be earnest in prayer for our Christian friends ; and 3 if we find our hearts excited to remember them in our prayers day and night, let us with him, return our thanks to God, that he puts such benevolent affections into our hearts ; for every good disposition that springs up there is implanted and cherished

by him.

SECT. II,

The Apostle exhorts Timothy strenuously to retain the gospel in the

midst of all discouragements and oppositions, and go through the duties of his ministerial office, in dependence upon the grace of God; mentioning the treachery of several Asiatics, and the extraordinary

fidelity and zeal of Onesiphorus. 2 Tim. I. 13Chap. II. 7.

E

2 Tim. I, 13.

2 TIMOTHY I. 13. HOLD fast the form

NCOURAGED by that confidence which I sect. of sound words

ii. which thou hast heard

have been expressing in the power and fideof lity of my Lord, to whom I have entrusted the

2 Tim care of my immortal interests and concerns, be 1. 13. thou, O Timothy, engaged resolutely to retain,