In this chapter the apostle charges Timothy to perform his office as an evangelist with great diligence, constancy, and faithfulness, with reasons for it; gives some hints of several particular persons mentioned, which made him very desirous that Timothy would come quickly to him; relates how…

I charge thee therefore before God Whose word the Scriptures are, and by whom they are inspired; who had made Timothy an able minister of the New Testament, and to whom he was accountable for his ministry: and the Lord Jesus Christ; who is equal with God, and bestows ministerial gifts on men, and…

Preach the word Either Christ the essential Word, who is the sum and substance of the Gospel ministry; or the word of truth and faith, the Gospel of salvation, the word of righteousness, peace, and reconciliation by Christ; which is to be preached, or published, in like manner as heralds proclaim…

For the time will come This is a reason of the solemn charge above given: the time referred to was future, when the apostle wrote, but quickly came on; and the characters of it have appeared more or less in all ages since; and in none more than in ours: when they will not endure sound doctrine; the…

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth The solid truths of the Gospel, not being able to bear the hearing of them: and shall be turned unto fables; things idle, trifling, useless, and, unprofitable; and which are no better than old wives’ fables; some respect may be had either to Jewish…

But watch thou in all things Relating to himself, his doctrine, and conversation; and to others, to feed the flock of God under his care, to know the state of them, and care for them; to give the time of night, and notice of approaching danger, and see the laws of Christ put in execution; either in…

For I am now ready to be offered Or poured out, as a libation, or a drink offering; or as the blood was poured out at the bottom of the altar; which is expressive of martyrdom, and shows that the apostle knew what death he should die; for which he was habitually ready; and this sacrifice of himself…

I have fought a good fight The fight of faith; the same as in (See Gill on 1 Tim. 6:10): I have finished my course, or race; the race of life set before him, his course of years; his days were extinct, the grave was ready for him, and he for that; his last sands were dropping, and he was just going…

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, &c.] The happiness of the future state of the saints is signified by a crown, on account of the glory and excellency of it; and in perfect agreement with the character of the saints, as kings; and who are raised to sit among princes, and…

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me. ] From Ephesus, where Timothy was, to Rome, where the apostle was; and this request did not arise purely from a desire of seeing Timothy, as in but rather because he had some things to say to him, relating to the care of the churches and the good of the…

For Demas hath forsaken me Of this person, (See Gill on Col. 4:14). It does not appear by what is said in this clause, and in the following, that he entirely apostatized; he might forsake the apostle, and yet not forsake Christ and his interest, or make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience: his…

Only Luke is with me The beloved physician, who wrote the Gospel that bears his name, and “the Acts of the Apostles”, and was a constant companion of Paul’s in his travels and sufferings: take Mark, and bring him with thee; who might be at Ephesus, or somewhere in Timothy’s way as he came to Rome.

And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. ] To supply the place of Timothy, while he came to Rome, and continued there: so careful was the apostle of the church there, that they might not be without the ministry of the word during his absence; see (Eph. 6:20, Eph. 6:21) .

The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus About the word here rendered a “cloak”, interpreters are not agreed: some take it for a garment, and about this they differ; some would have it to be a dignified robe, such as the Roman consuls and senators of Rome wore; which is not likely, this being not…

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil This seems to be the same person that was at Ephesus in the tumult, when the apostle was there, (Acts 20:33, Acts 20:34) and whom he afterwards delivered to Satan, along with Hymenaeus, for blasphemy, .

Of whom be thou ware also For he was now at Ephesus; and since he was such a malicious, ill natured, and troublesome person, as well as a blasphemer, an heretic, and had been delivered up to Satan, it was very advisable to shun his company, and have no conversation with him, and be upon the guard…

At my first answer no man stood with me Meaning, that when he made his first defence against the charges laid unto him in one of the courts of judicature in Rome, no man appeared in his cause, to speak to his character, to be a witness for him, or plead his cause: but all men forsook me; all his…

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me Either personally appearing to him, as in or by the ministry of an angel, (Acts 27:23, Acts 27:24) or else by granting him his gracious presence, which was what Christ had not when he was forsaken by his disciples: the presence of God or Christ is more than…

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work From wicked and unreasonable men, and all their attempts upon him, and from all afflictions by them; not but that he expected afflictions as long as he was in the world, but he knew that God would support him under them; and in his own time and way…

Salute Prisca and Aquila The same with Priscilla and Aquila: and so the Complutensian edition, and some copies, read here; who were of the same occupation with the apostle, and with whom he wrought at Corinth, and whom he left at Ephesus; and who seem by this salutation to have continued there,…

Erastus abode at Corinth He was chamberlain of that city, who being sent along with Timothy into Macedonia, very probably went from thence into Achaia, to Corinth, his native place, where he stayed. But Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Do thy diligence to come before winter When travelling would not be so safe and comfortable: the apostle consults Timothy’s good, as well as his own advantage. Eubulus greeteth thee.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit To counsel and advise in every difficult matter; to comfort under every distress; to supply with all grace in every time of need; and to strengthen and fit for every part and branch of duty.