ἀδόκιμοι: reprobate. The A.V.m. gives the word here, and in Tit. i. 16, an active force, of no judgment, void of judgment. For περί with the acc. see on τ Tim. i. το.
Ver. 9. οὐ προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ πλεῖον: There is only a verbal inconsistency be- tween this statement and those in ii. 16 and iii. 13, where see notes. The mean- ing here is that there will be a limit to the success of the false teachers. They will be exposed, found out; those to whom that fact is apparent will not be imposed on any more. In ii. 16, the in- creasing impiety of the teachers and the ‘cancerous growth of their teaching is alleged as a reason why Timothy should avoid them. In ver. 13, προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον does not indicate success in gaining adherents, but simply advance in degradation. ‘‘Saepe malitia, quum late non potest, profundius proficit”’ (Bengel).
ἄνοια: dementia (m®*°) is nearer the mark than insipientia (Vulg.).
ὡς Kal ἣ ἐκείνων ἐγένετο: “' Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods” (Ex. vii. 12); they failed to produce lice (viii. 18). “And the magicians could not stand be- fore Moses because of the boils; for the boils were upon the magicians” (ix. 11). During the plague of darkness, “they lay helpless, made the sport of magic art, and a shameful rebuke of their vaunts of understanding ’’ (Wisd. xvii. 7).
Vv. 10-17. I am not really uneasy about your steadfastness. You joined me as a disciple from spiritual and moral inducements only. The persecutions you saw me endure you knew to be typi- cal of the conditions of a life of godliness. Stand in the old paths. Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures on which your grow- ing mind was fed is never out of date as an equipment for the man of God.
Ver. το: παρηκολούθησας: See on 1 Tim. iv. 6. Thou didst follow (R.V.)
9--ξ14.