THE ARGUMENT This Second Epistle to Timothy was most certainly written from Rome, when Paul was a prisoner there, 2 Tim. 1:8, and, as most judge, a very little while before his death, for he tells us, 2 Tim.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God: See Poole on “1 Tim. 1:1”. According to the promise of life: it is much the same with Rom. 1:1–2, according to the gospel, which he had promised afore by his prophets.

See Poole on “1 Tim. 1:2”; there he calls him his own son, testifying his relation, here his beloved son, to testify his affection to him. The salutation is the same with that in 1 Tim. 1:2.

Paul here by his forefathers either intends his immediate parents, or Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for he served the same God whom they served. But how did Paul from his forefathers serve God with pure conscience, who was a native Jew, and zealous in that religion, in opposition to the faith of the…

There was a great brotherly love amongst primitive Christians, so as the apostle often expresseth his desire to see such Christians as were at a distance from him, Rom. 1:11, 1 Thess.

The apostle expresseth another cause of his affection to Timothy, viz. his sincere owning and adhering to the profession of the gospel; as his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice had done before him (he saith nothing of his father, for he was a Jew proselyted, or a heathen, Acts 16:1); and…

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance: Paul’s affection to Timothy was so far from abating his faithfulness to him, that it quickened him to admonish him to be faithful in his ministry.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: fear in this place signifieth fearfuluess, or cowardice, or poorness of spirit, in opposition to that holy fortitude which becomes ministers; this, he saith, is none of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and proceedeth not from God.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord; either the testimony of Christ himself; who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; or that testimony which thou art obliged to give, for the ministers of Christ are to be witnesses unto him, Acts 1:8.

Who hath saved us; that is, brought us into a state of salvation, and given us a right to it. And called us with an holy calling; and, in order to our obtaining it, hath effectually called, renewed, and sanctified us. Not according to our works; not for any merits of ours.

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ; which purpose of God in Christ Jesus was in a great measure hidden under the Old Testament, but by the coming of Christ is made evident.

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher; for the publication of which gracious counsel and purpose of God thus made manifest by Christ’s coming, and of that life and immortality thus by the gospel brought to light, God hath appointed me as his crier; and an apostle; and sent me immediately as his…

For the which cause I also suffer these things; for the preaching and publishing of which gospel, or for the teaching of the Gentiles, I suffer these things, being accused by the Jews as a seditious person stirring up the people, and by them delivered to the Romans, and by them imprisoned.

By sound words which he had heard from Paul, can be meant nothing but the doctrine of the gospel, which, as it is itself pure, and consistent with itself, not rotten, one piece of which will not hold with the other, so it tends to make souls sound as to their spiritual health: this doctrine Timothy…

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep: this is expounded by 1 Tim. 6:20; he means the doctrine of the gospel, or his office in the publication of it; Be faithful in the ministerial work.

This thou knowest: probably as to some he had a personal knowledge of their apostacy, as to others he knew it by information, which Paul confirmeth. That all they which are in Asia be turned away from me: it seemeth unreasonable to interpret all here of every individual, but many, as all oft…

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; whether Onesiphorus was at this time alive, or not, is very doubtful, for he only prays for his family in this text, and saluteth them only, 2 Tim. 4:19.

But when he was in Rome, whither he might go upon his private occasions, and, being there, he sought me out very diligently and found me; he made it his business to find out Paul, and rested not until he found him, either at his inn, or in the prison where he was put.

This would incline us to think that Onesiphorus was yet alive. The term mercy he here prays that he may find of the Lord, is comprehensive of all good, both corporal and spiritual, which he prays God the Father to grant to this good man, to find from the Lord Jesus Christ in that day when he shall…