Completed by Benjamin Andrews Atkinson. This second epistle Paul wrote to Timothy from Rome, when he was a prisoner there and in danger of his life; this is evident from these words, I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand, 2 Tim. 4:6.

Here is, I. The inscription of the epistle Paul calls himself an apostle by the will of God, merely by the good pleasure of God, and by his grace, which he professes himself unworthy of. According to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, or according to the gospel.

Here is an exhortation and excitation of Timothy to his duty : I put thee in remembrance. The best men need remembrancers; what we know we should be reminded of. 2 Pet. 3:1, I write this, to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. I. He exhorts him to stir up the gift of God that was in him.

Having exhorted Timothy to hold fast, I. He mentions the apostasy of many from the doctrine of Christ, 2 Tim. 1:15. It seems, in the best and purest ages of the church, there were those that had embraced the Christian faith, and yet afterwards revolted from it, nay, there were many such.