From this time Timothy acted as a minister of the Gospel: he generally attended St. Paul, but was sometimes employed by him in other places; he was very diligent and useful, and is always mentioned with great esteem and affection by St. Paul, who joins his name with his own in the inscription of six of his epistles. He is sometimes called bishop of Ephesus; and it has been said that he suffered martyrdom in that city some years after the death of St. Paul. Several learned men think that the first epistle to Timothy was written subsequent to St. Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, and, therefore, after the period at which the Acts of the Apostles end; and, as St. Paul was liberated in the year 63, the writing of this epistle, and the journey to which it refers, have been placed in the year 64. The design of this epistle was to instruct Timothy with respect to the superintendence and management of the church of Ephesus; what ought to be the qualifications of those who were to be appointed ministers; how false teachers should be withstood, erroneous notions refuted, and perfect order and harmony restored.

CHAP. I.

1 Timothy is put in mind of the charge which was given unto him by Paul at his going to Macedonia: 5 of the right use and end of the law: 11 of Saint Paul's calling to be an apostle, 20 and of Hymenæus and Alexander.

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A. D. 65. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ "by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

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1 appointment. Ham. Whit.

a See on ACTs, ix. 15.

CHAP. I.

1 TIM. ii. 3: This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. do. iv. 10: Because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe. 2 TIM. i. 9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. TIT. i. 3: Which [preaching] is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour. do. ii. 10: That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. do. iii. 4: After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. JUDE, 25: To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

CoL. i. 27: Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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2 Unto Timothy, my own son 2 in the faith : f Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,3

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4 Neither give heed to fables and endless 1 genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2 beloved son. Wi. 3 not otherwise. Wi. Co. Ma. Rh. Pu. no strange doctrine. Cr. Br. * uncertain. Wi. 5 the dispensation of God. Ham.

See on ACTS, xvi. 1.

See on 1 COR. iv. 17. f See on ROм. i. 7.

* ACTS, xx. 1, 3: Paul-departed for to go into Macedonia. He purposed to return through Macedonia. РнI. ii, 24: I trust in the Lord, that I also myself shall come shortly..

h GAL. i. 6, 7: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. 1 TIM. vi. 3, 4: The words under ver. 10.

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1 TIM. iv. 7: Refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. do. vi. 3, 4, 20: If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called. 2 TIM. ii. 14, 16, 23: Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. do. iv. 4: They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. TIT. i. 14: Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. do. iii. 9: Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 1 TIM. vi. 4: See above.

5 Now the 'end of the commandment is charity out of a "pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6 From which some having swerved' have turned aside unto ° vain jangling

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless 10 and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

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10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for 'menstealers,11 for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to * sound doctrine;

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6 love. Co. Ma, Cr. Gen. We. Pu. not aiming at. A. V. talk. Rh. Pu. vain discourse. Ham. doth not lie against. We. righteous. Co. Ma. Cr. "makers of slaves. Pu.

I See on JOHN, xiii. 34.

m 2 TIM. i. 3: I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience. do. ii. 22: Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 1 PET. i. 22: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.

n 2 TIM. iii. 10: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience. • See on ver. 4.

PROM. vii. 12: The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

ROM. xiii. 3: Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. GAL. iii. 19: It [the law] was added because of transgressions. do. v. 23, 25: Against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

See on Roм. i. 24, 26.

Exod. xxi. 16: He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be bound in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. 1 TIM. vi. 3, 4: If any man teach otherwise, and consent

11 According to the glorious Gospel of "the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

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12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath" enabled me, 12 for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

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13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:13 but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

12 strengthened me. Rh. Pu. Bi. Gen. We. doer of damage. Pu.

13 a tyrant. Co. Ma. Cr. an oppressor.

not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing. 2 TIM. i. 13: Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. do. ii. 2: The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men. do. iii. 14: Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. do. iv. 3: The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. TIT. i. 9: Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers. do. ii. 1: Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

" 1 TIM. vi. 15: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

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COL. i. 25: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God. See 1 TIм. ii. 7. See on GAL. ii. 7. 2 COR. xii. 9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

* See on 1 COR. iv. 2.

y 2 COR. iii. 5, 6: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. do. iv. 1: Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not. See on ver. 11. See on ACTS, viii. 3.

a LUKE, Xxiii. 34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his rai

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14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

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15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering,14 h for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

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17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal,

14 forbearance. Pu.

ment, and cast lots. JOHN, ix. 39, 41: And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin : but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. Acтs, iii. 17: And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. do. xxvi. 9: I verily thought 'with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

b See on Roм. v. 20.

2 TIM. i. 13. The words under ver. 10.

d LUKE, vii. 47: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.

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The like manner of speaking occurs 1 TIM. iii. 1; do. iv. 9; 2 TIM. ii. 11; and TIT. iii. 8.

fSee on LUKE, v. 32.

82 COR. iv. 1: As we have received mercy, we faint not. h ACTs, xiii. 39: By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. ROM. xv. 4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

i Ps. x. 16: The LORD is King for ever and ever. do. cxlv. 13: Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. do. cxlvi. 10: The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. DAN. vii. 14: And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall pass away, and his kingdom that