introduces the fRmlliar formula, "Thie is a faitliful 1111ying," with its rhythmical signi- ficRnce l\11d nrrnngement, to emphasize the importance of what i1 to follow. I. 1''AMIL~AR TRUTHS WITH A CONSOLATORY ABPEC'l'. "If we died with him, we 1hall also hve with him ; if we endure, we shall also reign with him." There ie here an expressive climax, setting forth two different aRpecte of the union between Christ and his people. 1. Identificatwn with Christ in his death. All believers died with him, as their Head and Representative, and thus died to sin, through the effiC11cy of his death, so as to be planted together in the likeness of his death; and thus, being made conformable to bis death, they have fellowship with him in his su:fferi11)!s. 2, Bui identification with Christ in his life follow, as a wnsequence of this identification m death, because we rose with him from the dead, to be planted in the likeness of hio resurrection, that we should walk in newness of life; and thus, being made alive UDto God, we live a life of holiness and sanctification with him (Rom. vi. 5-8). 3. Identi- fication with Christ in endurance involves identiflcatwn in his reigning glory. Believer, who suffer shame and loss and outrage for Christ's sake shall reign with him in glory hereafter, ns they reign in the kingdom of grace with him now; for they are "a kingdom of priests," destined for everlasting glory (Rev. i. 6). II. F AlULIAB TBUTHB WITH A THREATENING ASPECT, .. If we deny him, he also wlll deny us; if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; for he cannot <leoy himself." 1. The denial of Chriat isfaf,a/,, It is to reject the only Saviour. Some deny his Messiabehip; some deny his Divinity; some deny him by their works, being ashamed of him and refusing to confess him; some deny him by open apostasy. In all these ca8es the denial involves our Lord's denial of them (Matt. vii. 23; x. 23). 2. Our unbelief does not affect the essential faitl,fulness of Christ. "If we believe not, yet be abideth faithful." 1. This does not mean that he will save us whether we believe in him or not; for he has just said that if we deny hilll be will .also deny us, and faith is always an essential condition of ~alvation, 3. It means tJ,at he will alJidefaiel,ful to his word of threaten- ing, as well as to bis nature and perfections; fnr he cannot falsify his declarations thal "he that believeth not shall be condemned " (Mark xvi. 16). .He will say to apostates in the last day, "I never knew you." It would be to deny himself to act otherwise. He cannot consistently with bis character regard faith and unbelief as the same thing. Thus the apostle stimulates Timothy to fidelity by an ewbition at o.nce of the bright and the dark sides of Divine truth.-T. C.
Ver. 14.-An injunction to put Ephesian beluwrs in rmaembronce of thae truths. This begins a new portion of the Epistle. l. CHRISTIAN PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE TBUTH IN ALL lT8 ASPECTS. "Put them in remembrance of these things." 1. We are apt to forget the consolatory aspect of truth under the pressure of present trial, as worldly men are apt to forget its threatening aspect under the absorbing worldliness of their lives. 2. The Lord ha3 made provision, to "put us in remembranre," through the ministry and through the Word of God, to which w·e do well to take heed as to a light shining in a dark place. II. CHRISTIAN PEOPLE NEED TO BE WARNED AGAINST RUINOUS STRIFES ABOUT WOllDS. "Solemnly charging them in the sight of the Lord, not to contend about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear." 1. There are many religiO'Us contf'Oflef'"SUs which turn rather upon words than upon things, and thus involve a waste of intellectual energy. These "strifes of words" were characteristic of the false teachers (1 Tim. vi. 4). 2. There is nothing in the pasaage to warrant a disr1:ga1·d for "tl,e form of ,ound words," for the" wholesome words" of the Lord Jesus, which cover things as well as thoughts. 3. The apostle condemns a wrangling about terms which brings no advantage to truth, but rather tends to the subversion of tlie bearers, misleading their judgments and overturning their faith. Simple-minded people might begin to doubt the truth of a gospel about which contending controversialists were so much at variance. Unsettle- meot of mind is dangerous, while it lays an arrest on all earnest work.-T. C.
Ver. 16.-Tlle qualifications of the gospel-yr,,aeher, "Give diligence to present thy- self approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." I. HE UUBT BE LABORIOUS. The term" workman" implies this fact as well as the direct admonition to" give diligenoe " to his ministry. The ministry is a good work, demanding 30 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [oB. II, 1-26.
industry, etudy, e.nd ce.re, e.nd no me.n is sufficient for it without the grace of God. It iR a co1nfort IUl well a.s an honour t.o think that ministers are "workers with God" (1 Cor. iii. 9). II. Tmtv IIUHT BEEK GoD'e APPROVAL IN THETB woBK. They must not etmly to pleue men, else the~· will nol be the servants of Christ; but they must approve them- selves to God, showing all ~ood fidelity, and commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Ill. THEY IIUST WORK WITH A 8INOEBITY AND EFFICIENCY THAT WILL NOT DRIN0 l!RAIIE UPON THEIISELVES. 'l'be negligent, or unskilled, or ignorant workman will pro- duce work which may well put him oo shame. But the true workman loves to 1•roduce good and abiding work, such as will st.and the fiery t.est of the last day (1 Cor. iii. 13). He may often feel bis insufficiency; but he will never be ashamed of the gospel, uor of his suHerings, nor of his faithful ministrations of the \Vord. IY. HE IIUST HAVE SKILL IN THE USE OF THE WORD ovGoD. "Handling aright the Word of truth." 1. His one book, his OM weapon, his one interest, is the Divine Word. His mind, bis heart, bis will, must be concentrated upon this Word. It must form the matter of his preaching, the mould of his thoughts, the inspiration of his imagination. 2. He mu be able to l,a11dle it aright, with due regard for the authority of Gud, to its oWfi intrinsic dai~, and to the wel.fare of the souls of men. He must be able to "divide it aright," distributing to babes in Christ and oo full-grown men according lo their capacities and their circumstances; he must not pervert it or wrest ii from its true sense; be must not keep back anything that is profitable, but declare the whole counsel of God. He must not wander to the right or left, but keep a straight course forward in the path of truth.-T. C.