Timothy to Hebrews - The Preterist Archive

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHf.
INTRODUCTION
§ 1. Contents.
I COMMENCE by exhibiting tbe contents of the epistle, that I
may connect with this my further investigations. These divide
themselves into two principal parts. The one consists of admonitions
addressed to Timothy as a preacher of the gospel ; the
other treats of his personal relations to the apostle. The apostle's
habitual reserve in regard to personal matters leads him first of all
to discuss the obligations imposed on Timothy by his assumption of
the ofiSce of evangelist ; and this subject occupies four clearly distinguishable
sections of the epistle. He is reminded (ii. 1-13) that
as a soldier of Christ he is not to shrink from the dangers and sufferings
attendant on the proclamation of the gospel, and pointed
to the reward which accompanies fidelity. He is secondly (ii. 14-26)
admonished diligently to enforce what the apostle has held out to
him as the hope of the Christian, and to shew himself an approved
labourer in his calling by impressive warning against useless logomachy,
and by guarding himself against this propensity. It is the
error, known from the other epistles, of a useless strife about things
alien from the truth which is according to godliness, nay, which
gradually seduce from this into impiety, that the apostle has in his
eye, and in respect of which he urges on Timothy his duty, alike in
respect to himself, and to those whom it threatens or has already
seized. But there is still another error (iii. 1-17) which Paul lays
open to Timothy by pointing prophetically to the moral character of
the last time. It is to be rather hoped that it wiU soon by its own
folly annihilate itself; but all the more faithfully is Timothy to
adhere to the truth which he has known and received, and for which
the example of the apostle and the word of the Old Testament
taught him in his youth, are a certain pledge. A comprehensive,
impressive exhortation to unwearied fidelity in his calling is con-