Timothy to Hebrews - The Preterist Archive

Second Timothy I. 7-12. 191
in opposition to Flatt, justly explains of means: per hominem dot Beus,
Augustine.
The apostle knows that in consequence of the im})OsitioD,
of hands, the Divine gift has been bestowed upon Timothy.
Yet Mack
manifestly errs in supposing that it follows from this certainty, that
the communication of the Spirit is connected sacramentally with the
act ('/. e., ex vi ipsius actionis—a Deo ad hoc instituta). Still more
untenable is his reasoning from this passage to the indelible character
of ordination : for 1, ordination in its later sense is in no way referred
to, and 2, it by no means follows from the exhortation to Timothy
to rekindle the spiritual flame, that it may not be entirely extinguished.
Ver. 7 assigns a reason for the requisition ; for God hatb not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Uvevna
is not here = ^apitrjua. Kather ver. 7, as confirming, stands parallel
to SC Tjv alriaVj ver. 6 ;
since Timothy has received such a spirit, he
must not allow his ;^ap«7jiia to lie unemployed. The Spirit is imparted
to him as a Christian ; the right employment of his gift is
referred to his personal conduct as a Christian. The terms which
limit TTvevi^aj as ov deiXlag d?iXd dvvdfieojg, tc. r. A. (comp. Kom. viii. 15,
6ov?.eiag— vlodeaiag'), are adapted doubtless to the defects perceived
in Timothy. I^eiXiag (Matth. viii. 26 ; Eev. xxi. 8 ; John xiv. 27),
timidity ; as Timothy is not to fear dangers and sufferings for the
sake of the gospel. In contrast : dwdfieMg, of power, which makes
strong for vnepvtKdv, Kom. viii. 37, comp. Eph. vi. 10 ; Phil. iv. 13.
Overpassing the simple contrast the apostle adds, nal dydnrjg koI
o(i)(ppoviGiJiov. Love fears no danger or sacrifice, and gives to power
its constant impulse and right direction. I.o)(l)povian6g not transitive
{= are sobering, comp.