The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Timothy — Section 67

",~th God. "I charge thee in the sigh~ of God, and or Jesus Christ." Unseen by 11mothy, they were really present as Witnesses of the charge now to be laid on him. The first Witness, who is the First Person of the Godhead, is simply designated God. It is the highest, most comprehensive, of names. With God is 68sociated the historical J011W1 with the Divine commission. While the apostle is very careful to plaoe himself and other ministers at a distance from Christ (1 Cor. iii.), he does not hesitate to bring him into the closest &ssociation with God. The spirits of the departed cannot com- municate with us; but Jesus, who died thirty-eight years before the writing of this Epistle, is thought of as present with Paul in his dungeon, witnessing to the chnrge in all its particulars that is to be sent on to Timothy. (2) Christ at the time of greatest solemnity for Timothy. " Who shall judge the quick and the dead." Timothy is not mentioned; but, 6S the quick and the dead are all-inclusive, he was to regard himself as included. The time was to come when Christ was to return to earth. Before his judgment-seat were to be gathered the quick (suddenly changed) and the dead (raised from their graves). Timothy (changed or awakened) would have to take his place along with others, to give an BCOOunt to the Judge especially of his official work. (3) Ohrist at the ti'TM of greatest joy to his peop'le.. "And by his appearing and his kingdom.'' Christ is now concealed from human view, and men may dispute bis being the Son of God, may dispute the fact that be died. At bis appearin:;:, bis relation to the Father and to human salvation will be made clear beyond all possibility of doubt. Christ is now reigning, but there is not a full acknowledgment of his power. Many never think of his reigning at ell. The time is to come when his kingdom is to be established as it is not established now-established in the full acknowledgment of his power-established to know neither modification nor end. On his return to heaven be is to come into a certain subordination to the Father, and yet is the order of things that is to last through eternity called his kingdom. To bis people the time of bis appearing, and from which his kingdom dates, will be full of joy as the time when their Master shall be publicly honoured, and when their own sharing with him shall stand out in its full meaning. Timothy must not, by unfaitlafulness, take from the joy of the future disclosure of Christ to him. ~- Particulars of the cJusrge. These are given in rapid succession, without connecting words, by which there is gain in force. (1) Duty of preaching. "Preach the Word.'' The Word, i.e. of God, was what he was w preach ; but the stress is more on the preaching. That was his work ; let him preach, prt»<:l.; let him utter Divine truth; let him utter it loudly as a herald, so that men may bear. (2) Season/or preaching. "Be instant in season, out of season." He was to be ready for every opportunity of preaching. He was to have his stated season for preaching, so that men might know when they could bear the Word; but be was also to preach beyond the stated season. His season was to be every season, i.e. within uatll?'lll and moral limits. He w.as to preach, strength permitting, w.henever an oppor- tunity of doing good thereby was presented to him. (3) Parts of preaching. "Repro't'e, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.'' He was to reprove, i.e. to expose the real nature of sin. He was to rebuke, i.e. to impute blame for sin. He was to exhort, i.e. to use persuasion against continuing in Bin, and toward leading a better life. He was to execute the three offices of a reprover, rebuker, exhorter, with all long- sufferina-not vehemently, but, as with all proper restraint on himself, so with all proper ~nsideration for others; and with all teaching-not unintelligently, but with repeated instruction, and not out of bis own thought~, but out of the Word. 11 A..aoUMENT DRAWN FBOII'. A DISTURBED FUTURE. 1. The intolerableness of Sli'Und doctrim. "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine." 'l'lie sound or healthful teaching, according io 1 Tim. iii. 16, is that which, founded on the facts of redemption, leads to godliness. Men find it intolerable, because it binds them down to thoughts and courses which are contrary to "their own lusts." 2. The te,a,iher, that spring up for thotit! who find sound doctrine intolerable. "But, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts." Their relief is not to get rid of all teachers (which would be too drastic), but to get teachers after their own lllllt.!. 'l'bese teachers are the birth and reflection of their own depraved sentiments. Those who strive to have their desires regulated by the Word of God &re sa.tisfi.ed with the gospel teachers; those who have their desires unregulated (i.e. in the ~late of lwts) are not eBBily sati11fied. "Having itching ears, they heap to themselves OB. IV, 1-22.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 73