The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Timothy — Section 62

Vere. 3, 4.-1'he waywardness and restiveness of so-called Chridiau afresh incentive to fidelity in ministers. This is an argument frum the future to tell upon present duty. I. 'l'HE BEASON OF THE APOSTASY. " For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrinP," 1. The gospel-doctrine is sound, because it necessitates a holy life, and holds the gruti.fiw,tion of sinful passions to be inconsistent with the hopes qf salvation. 2. Evil men cannot endure it, because it is so opposed to the corruption of human nature, and therflfore treat it with neglect, if Bot with contempt. 3. 7'/u II, TUIO'fllY, "6  THE S~ND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [oH, 1v. 1-22. -~----------------------- aponle /~na ~he grov,t'la o/ evil '" lhe l'liurcA, and thererore 1eek1 to prepare mlnlatera to war agam st 1t. Il. Tn EFFECT OF TBI8 IIOBAL DI8008T AT THE GOSPEL. "But having Itching eara ~ ~eap to themselves teach_en1 after their own lusts." 1. They will not di,card th; m•""":11 al»olutelg. They will only exchange one cla~a or ministers for another. But they wil! vaeth- multiply the number of their religious guides. 2. The ikA/or novelty l«l lo 1M multipUca~ of '4laclaerl. They were fickle, unsettled, and uneasy. 'l'bey WRDted to bear new thm~s or 8mooth thinii;s, such as would reflect the caprice■ of a corrupt nature. S. The _reas~ for the whoui rabble of teacAers that IM!J gatMred to t ~ - 11 to be fou~II. 1n their wi~h to have their fanciea gratified-" after their own lust&. They wanted indulgent guides,_ who would flatter the pride of human nature, and not lay too great a stress upon the 1mportanoe of a holy life. 'l'he sound doctrine wu necessarily allied to a pure morality. _JIL TD Brl'BIBUTION THAT AWAITS ON SUCH A PERVERSION OF JUDGIIENT, "And wtll turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables." 1. It u a solemn fact in Divi~ providence, thal wlien men do not like to return to the knowledge of the hth, God givea them up to a reprobate mind, so that they lose all relish for sound doctrine. 2. It u an equally solemn fact that, if the truth i8 repudiated, the heart will 'lot ~here/on - to r.:urci,se_ itself about religious concerna. The heart cannot long :ema1n. emptr Fables rush ID to ~upy the place which denies a footing to truth, )UBt u 1nfidehty has a vacuum-creating power, which superstition immediately rUBhes ID to fill up. Wh&t a waste of soul I-profitless fables taken i.n exchange for soul-saving ~ruth 1-T. 0. • Ver. 5.-1'he duty of Timothy in trying tima. I. "BoT BB THOU 80BBB IN ALL 'l'BINGB." 1. The presence of false teachers 11ecessitated a wakeful attitude, a CQ'TIBt/Jnt presence of mind, a quick discernment of opportunities for advancing the truth. . 2. There ought lo be a consistently ,obt:r and watchful care extending through the whole life of the minister, who bas to "give account of souls." II. "SOFFER HARDSHIP." 1. If the minister /tars the anger of men, he will not be faithful t-0 God. 2. There is a reward/or brave suffering. (1 'l'im. ii. 3-12.) 8. The tm,mple oj the apostle's life wa, ever before Timothy as a powerful incentive to endurance. (1 Tim. ill 10--12.) ill. "Do THE wou o:r AN EVANGELIST," 1. There was a separate class of oji,#r, called evangel.isll in the apost-Olic Church (Eph. iv. 11), whose special business was to break new ground in the open fields of heathenism or the narrower confines of Judaism. They preached the gospel, while pastors shepherded the flocks. But we are noi to sup- pose that paHters did not also "do the work of an evan~elist." They bad saints and sinner11 11.nder their care in all places. 2. As Timothy had been lately ou;upied in organ- ising t~ Church-life of Ephesus, the admonition was not needless that he should hence- forth devote himseli to the direct work of evangelization, 18 the best antidote to heresy and impiety. IV. "MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY IIINIBTBY." Thid was to be done: 1. By 00118tant labow-a. 2. By unawerving faithfulness t-0 God and man. 8. By effort• to save sinner, rmd edify saints, which wen uen to be 11UCce$sful. Such a man fultili1 hi.t ministry, for he seen not his 01111 things, but the things of Ohrist.-T. C. Vers. 6-8.-The nearness of the apostle's death, an, hia prospects in con11ection with it. l:le urgPs Timothy to increased zeal on account of bis own approaching departure. L 'l'HE lMIIINENCE OF ms DEATH. "For I am already being offered, and the time ul my departure is at band." 1. Mark the calm11ess with whi,ch the apostle oontemplates u ••iulent death. There is no tremor, or hurry, or impatience in his last days. The lar,uuage is singularly composed. He knew that Nero would soon put an end to I.is life" for that monster of cruelty and crime was even then striking out wildly againsl the' Christians. Netbing but an assured hope and a living faith could maintain the 11pirit in such tryin_g circumstances. 2. The a,po_stle is ~ot t-Oo preoccupied w-ith hi~ o,_vn •l'l'roaching ,ujf erings t-0 forget th~ c,a~s~for wh":"h he ta ?"tow about t<> aurrender hi, life. lie is UCJW more urgent than ever 1u bis 1DBtruct1ons to '1111,uthy. U. 'l'HE HAPPY BETHOBPJWT OF • USEFUL LU'&. "l \lave fought the good tight, OH, IV, 1-22.) THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY, 67