Bible Commentary

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 20. Erastus abode ] ‘Stayed at his post’; the verb suggests certainly that he had been commissioned by St Paul for some duty which he courageously fulfilled; if therefore it is unlikely that the Erastus who was chamberlain or treasurer (Oeconomus) of Corinth … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:20”

Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 19. Salute Prisca and Aquila ] Prisca, or Priscilla, and her husband Aquila of Pontus had been driven from Rome with the Jews by the edict of the Emperor Claudius (Act 18:2); they were staying at Corinth with St Paul ‘because they were of the same … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:19”

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory forever and ever. Amen. 18. And the Lord shall deliver ] The ‘and’ is omitted in the better mss. The Apostle for the last time ‘goes off abruptly’ at the word ‘deliver,’ and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:18”

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 17. the Lord stood with me ] Again took my part. strengthened me ] ‘Infused strength into me.’ Cf. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:17”

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all [men] forsook me: [I pray God] that it may not be laid to their charge. 16. At my first answer ] This should not be referred to any preliminary trial at Ephesus or elsewhere, but to the ‘prima actio’ of the main case at … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:16”

Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 15. hath greatly withstood ] The aorist should be read for the perfect, he withstood. There is apparently an antithesis intended between Alexander’s ‘works’ of mischief and the Apostle’s ‘words.’ It does not seem to be false teaching that is referred to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:15”

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 14. did me much evil ] The Greek word has a technical meaning, ‘impeached,’ ‘indicted,’ and so it is sometimes rendered here ‘laid many grievous things to my charge’; but it is in the simpler sense, ‘ shewed me much … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:14”

The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring [with thee,] and the books, [but] especially the parchments. 13. The cloke ] Vulg. ‘penulam.’ The oldest use of the word is traced back beyond the Latins nearly to the time of Alexander the Great, in a fragment of a Doric poet, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:13”

And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 12. Tychicus ] The accent of the word shews it to be formed from the noun for ‘chance’; as with us a common surname is Chance. Tychicus, a native of proconsular Asia (Act 20:4), went with St Paul on the third missionary journey to Jerusalem, perhaps as a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:12”

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 11. Only Luke ] Lucas is a contraction of Lucanus, which occurs frequently in inscriptions, and may indicate the position of a libertus or freedman: many such, we know, were the house physicians, the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:11”