Authenticity
2 Tim. 1:1, 2.—Paul, an apostle of. Jesus Christ by the will of God to Timothy my dearly beloved son.
See 1 Tim. 1:1, 2.
DR. JOHN KITTO.—The second epistle to Timothy unites not fewer proofs in favor of its Pauline origin than the first epistle.—Introduction to Epist.
Life and Immortality Revealed
2 Tim. 1:10.—Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light.
REV. ALBERT BARNES.—It is not meant that there were no intimations of this truth before; but that Christ removed all doubt and ambiguity on the subject. The ideas of the wisest of the heathen respecting a future life were very obscure, and their hopes very faint. Seneca says of it, “that which our wise men do promise, but do not prove." (Epist., 102.) And Cicero alluding to the different sentiments of philosophers concerning the matter, says, “Which of these opinions is true, some god must tell us; which is most like to truth, is a great question." Of the resurrection and future life of the body, they had no conception whatever. With what propriety, then, may it be said that these doctrines were brought to light through the Gospel.—Notes, In loco.
The True Soldier
2 Tim. 2:4.—No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life.
GROTIUS.—Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry, or to engage in any husbandry or trade; and they were forbidden to act as tutors to any person, or curators to any man's estate, or proctors in the cause of other men: and all this, lest such engagements and relations should divert their minds from that which was to be the sole object of pursuit.—In loco.
Striving Lawfully
2 Tim. 2:5.—And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully.
PAUSANIAS.—Every competitor in the athletic contests, before he was entered upon the list, was obliged to take an oath that he would violate none of the regulations, and if afterward he did violate any one regulation, it debarred him from the prize, even though victorious.—Eliaca.
Gentleness and Patience
2 Tim. 2:24, 25.—And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
PLATO.—How can one in mild terms admonish and teach those who deny that the gods have any existence, and that too without a single sufficient reason?
‘Let us however make the attempt: for there is no reason why they should be mad after pleasure, and we should be so too with anger against them. Let our addresses to persons of this kind, therefore, be kind and passionless, and let us speak, mildly, repressing our anger, conversing with them thus—" My child, you are young: but time, as it advances, will cause you to change your opinions, etc."—De Leg., X., 3.
2 Tim. 3:1—This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
See 2 Thess. 2:1-12, and 1 Tim. 4:1-3.
Inspiration of Scripture
2 Tim. 3:16, 17.—All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
REV. ALBERT BARNES.—This properly refers to the Old Testament; and it is the solemn testimony of Paul that it was all inspired.—Note, In loco.
PRINCIPAL J. W. DAWSON, LL. D., F. R. S.—And, finally, I may state, as the conclusion of the whole matter, that the Bible contains within itself all that under God is required to account for and dispose of all forms of infidelity, and to turn to the best and highest uses all that man can learn of, nature; if only its truths can be presented in an intelligent and loving manner, and by the lips of men themselves animated by the Divine Spirit, whose inspiration speaks in the Sacred Scriptures.— Nature and the Bible, p. 221.
Ready to Be Offered
2 Tim. 4:6.—I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand.
LUCAN.—In war, in dangers, oft it has been known, That fear has driven the headlong coward on; Give me the man, whose cooler soul can wait With patience for the proper hour of fate.— Phars., VII., 103.
The Faith Kept
2 Tim. 4:7.—I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
EPICTETUS. —The champions in this greatest of combats must not grow 'weary, but be content to bear suffering. For this is no combat of wrestling or boxing, where both he who succeeds and he who succeeds not may be equal in worth, or equal in misery; but a combat for good fortune and for happiness itself.—Epict., lib. 25.
SENECA. —Life is a warfare.: such men therefore who are ordered from place, who undergo all manner of difficulties in the execution of the most dangerous commissions, are the brave men and chiefs in the army.—Epist., 94.
The Crown of Righteousness
2 Tim. 4:8.—Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.
PLUTARCH. —To Lycurgus whose performances were so illustrious, the conclusion of life was the crown of happiness.—Lycurg., c. 29.
DR. JOHN KITTO. —The soldiers and officers of the Roman army received various rewards, proportionate to their merit. The greatest of all rewards was the civic crown of oak-leaves, given to one who had saved the life of a citizen. The honorary crowns were usually conferred by the general in the presence of the army, and such as received them, after a public eulogium on their valor, were placed next to his person, All this seems strikingly illustrative' of the comparison used by the apostle, and points its applications.—Pict. Bib. In loco.