The Lord grant unto him, &c.— This is a common Hebraism. See Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 9:6; Genesis 9:16; Genesis 19:24.Isaiah 8:18. 1 Corinthians 1:7-8.
Inferences—Shall an inspired apostle commit the true doctrine of Christ to ministers by immediate commission from God? And shall they not keep it pure and uncorrupt, and be ready to suffer for it, in dependance on his power, as exerted by the Holy Spirit? Or shall they preach it, and the people not regard it? What a contempt is this of divine authority, and of the glorious gospel, at once! But O! happy souls, that serve God with a pure heart, and receive the gospel with unfeigned faith and love, after the example of religious ancestors; and lay themselves out to propagate it in like manner to others! It contains the promise of everlasting life through Jesus Christ; and sets the immortal life of soul and body, and the way of obtaining it, in the clearer light. Who would not be contented to undergo the severest persecutions, without fear, or shame, for the sake of the rich advantages that are to be hoped from it! May we have the firmest confidence in Christ, as the all-sufficient Saviour!—How dear is one sincere servant of Christ to another, as partakers of the same faith, and embarked in the same noble cause! How greatly do they all need, and how heartily do they wish, and daily pray for grace, mercy, and peace to be multiplied to one another, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! How affectionately are they desirous of each other's company, especially in times of great tribulation! How tenderly do they sympathize one with another in their afflictions! How concerned are they that a due improvement be made of the gifts of the Spirit, which are graciously bestowed upon their brethren in the ministry, who are endowed, according to the spirit of the gospel, not with a timorous, cowardly temper, but with holy fortitude and love, sobriety, wisdom, and sound judgment, for fulfilling their trust, in the midst of all difficulties, opposition, and danger! And while many desert the cause of Christ, and his suffering servants, like Phygellus and Hermogenes, blessed be God, there are others, who, like Onesiphorus, are not ashamed to own them in the worst of times; but are willing to seek opportunities of shewing all possible regard to them. May the Lord be gracious to such and their families; and grant them mercy to eternal life in the day of judgment!
REFLECTIONS.—1st, St. Paul opens this epistle,
1. With his apostolic salutation to Timothy. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, acting under a divine commission, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus, who hath brought life and immortality to light by his gospel; to Timothy, my dearly beloved son, sharing my warmest paternal affection: grace, mercy, and peace, with all the unutterable blessings therein contained, be with thee, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Note; All our mercies come to us as the free gift of God in Jesus Christ, whether the present pardon, peace, and grace, which we receive here, or the promise of immortal life and glory which we expert hereafter.
2. He thanks God for him. I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers, as a true child of Abraham, and descendant of the patriarchs, with pure conscience, purged now from dead works by a Redeemer's blood, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day, which I statedly offer at a throne of grace morning and evening, presenting thee also before the throne of grace at other times; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, and the distress which appeared at our last parting, that I may be filled with joy, if it so please the Lord, by our happy meeting again: and it more engages my heart to thee, when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, and which has been proved on so many occasions, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also, who treadest in the same steps. Note; (1.) It is a singular blessing to have religious parents; for though grace comes not by education, yet God often blesses effectually the labours of those who study to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (2.) Where unfeigned faith dwells, there every good fruit and gracious disposition will be produced.
2nd, The apostle,
1. Stirs up his dear son to the vigorous exercise of his ministry. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, blowing the embers of divine love and zeal into a flame, and making the most profitable use of those distinguished spiritual gifts which God hath bestowed upon thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, that we should be discouraged by opposition, but of power, to bear up against every enemy undismayed, and of love to Christ and men's souls, which all the waters of persecution cannot quench, and of a sound mind, settled in the doctrines of truth, steady in attachment to them, and willing cheerfully to suffer for them. May such a spirit be in every minister!
2. He exhorts him to take up the cross boldly. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, for they are honourable bonds which are borne for the sake of Jesus and his cause: but be thou partaker of the affections of the gospel, sympathizing with those that suffer, and willing to endure any persecutions on account of the gospel, according to the power of God, which is engaged for the support of all those who are faithful. Note; (1.) All Christians, and ministers especially, must prepare for the cross, and expect it. (2.) They who dare commit their all to God, and look up to him for help, shall experience his almighty assistance in every time of need.
3. The apostle suggests the strongest motives to engage his fidelity to God and his gospel.—Who hath saved us with a present salvation in and through the son of his love Christ Jesus, and hath called us with an holy calling by the word of the gospel, that we might be separate from a world that lieth in wickedness, and sanctified for his honour and glory, not according to our works, for we deserve nothing but an eternal banishment from his presence, in which is the fulness of bliss; but our salvation was according to his own purpose and grace, which wills the salvation of all men, and renders the reprobate who wilfully rejected that grace utterly inexcusable; and was given us in Christ Jesus in and through whom every blessing is conveyed to and possessed by the faithful saint, before the world began, before the secular ages of the Jews, and, in his infinite prescience, from all eternity.—but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who, coming in the human nature, had made the richest discoveries of God's grace to perishing sinners; and, by dying on the cross as their substitute, hath abolished death, delivering every faithful saint from the wages of sin, the curse of the law, and all the fearful consequences thereof in time and eternity; and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, giving a brighter and clearer revelation of the eternal blessedness prepared for body and soul in a better world, and of the way which only leads thereto, than had before been made to the sons of men. Note; Every faithful soul may regard death as a vanquished foe: when the sting of sin is taken out, we have nothing to fear, but every thing to hope; while through the grave we see the golden gates of life and immortality unfolded, and the bright beams of everlasting glory illuminating the dark valley of the shadow of death.
4. He proposes to him his own example. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles, and count it my highest honour; for the which cause I also suffer these things, being now the prisoner of Jesus Christ for my fidelity in maintaining the privileges of the Gentiles; nevertheless I am not ashamed, neither of the gospel, nor of the chain that he wore for the sake of it; for I know whom I have believed, the glories of his person, and the riches of his grace; and I am persuaded that he is able, as his promises assure me he is willing in respect to all persevering believers, to keep that which I have committed unto him, even the precious deposit of my immortal soul, against that day, that great day of his appearing and glory. Note; Though we suffer for the gospel, we need not be ashamed; the cause will gloriously support us.
5. He exhorts him to fidelity. Hold fast the form of sound words, the sacred and unadulterated oracles of God, and the pure doctrines of the gospel, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus; copy the pattern of my preaching, especially in these fundamental articles; and as thy faith in and love to the Redeemer, have appeared, urge upon your hearers the same blessed truths with all fidelity, and warm affection. That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us; be faithful to the solemn trust committed to thee; and by the power of the Holy Ghost, who abides in the hearts of all his people, maintain the purity of the gospel with persevering diligence. Note; (1.) Jesus is the glorious object of our faith and love, and to him should our hearts for ever cleave. (2.) The Lord must keep us, or we cannot keep ourselves; and the indwelling energy of the Holy Ghost alone can enable us for the discharge of every sacred trust which he hath committed to us.
3rdly, To engage his dear son Timothy's fidelity, he mentions the apostacy of some as a warning, and the steadfastness of Onesiphorus, as an encouragement to him.
1. The apostacy of some. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, either the generality of the Asiatic ministers and churches, or such of the Asiatics as were or had been at Rome, who were ashamed of his chain, and disowned him in his imprisonment out of fear; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. Note; It is one of the bitterest pangs of suffering, to feel ourselves then deserted by those from whom we might reasonably, from their professions, have expected the greater comfort and support.
The steadfastness of Onesiphorus. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: probably he was an Ephesian, and absent from his family with the apostle, whom he attended and served with great fidelity and zeal; and therefore the grateful Paul, in return, repays him with his prayers, begging, that the choicest blessings of God might descend upon him and his; for he oft refreshed me with seasonable visits, and supplies of necessaries, and was not ashamed of my chain, when cowardice and fear of reproach basely deterred others from coming near me. But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day, when Jesus shall come to reward every kindness shewn to his servants, especially to those who are suffering for righteousness' sake. And in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. Note; (1.) When we can make no other return to our kind friends, we are bound at least to recommend them in our prayers to the Saviour's mercy, and beg of him to reward them in that day. (2.) That day! How should it be ever in our view, that great decisive day, when our eternity of happiness or misery must be determined! (3.) We have nothing to cry for at God's hands, but mercy; living or dying, the best have no merit to plead, but must expect eternal life as the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.