2 Timoteo 4:6 Commento

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 4 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 things were with him when he made his first defence at Rome; and concludes the epistle with salutations, and his usual blessing. The charge is made in the most solemn manner in the sight of God; and of Christ, as Judge of quick and dead; and directs to the several parts of the ministerial work, and the manner in which they should be performed, Ti2 4:1. The reason of which charge is, because the time was hastening on that sound doctrine would not be endured, and men would depart from the truth to fables and false teachers, Ti2 4:3. Wherefore the apostle repeats his charge and exhortation to Timothy, though in other words, to be vigilant, patient, courageous, and faithful in the discharge of his office, Ti2 4:5 adding a fresh reason moving to it, taken from the apostle's death being at hand; which is expressed by a sacrifice, and by a departure out of the world, Ti2 4:6 which leads him to give an account of his past conduct in fighting the good fight, finishing his course, and keeping the faith, Ti2 4:7 and of his firm belief of eternal glory and happiness, Ti2 4:8 and next he desires Timothy to use all diligence to come quickly to him, Ti2 4:9 his reasons for which were, because he had scarce anybody with him: one had forsook him through love of the world; another was gone to Thessalonica; a third to Galatia, and a fourth to Dalmatia; only Luke the evangelist was with him; and as for Tychicus, he had sent him to Ephesus: he therefore desires he would bring Mark with him, and his cloak, books, and parchments he had left at Troas, Ti2 4:10 and then takes notice of persons that had used him ill, particularly Alexander the coppersmith; he wishes justice might be done him; and advises Timothy to beware of him, because of his opposition to the doctrines of the Gospel, Ti2 4:14 and also of others that neglected him, who forsook him when he defended himself: however, he prays that this might not be charged upon them; and observes the goodness of God in standing by him and delivering him; and expresses his faith and confidence that he should be delivered and preserved safe to eternal glory, Ti2 4:16 and next follow the apostle's salutations of some persons at Ephesus, and an account of two others, one at Corinth, and another at Miletum; and a repetition of his request to Timothy, to come quickly to him, and before winter; and then some salutations of persons at Rome, sent by Timothy; and the whole is concluded with the apostle's usual benediction, Ti2 4:19.

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 was not to atone for sin, his own, or others; Christ's death was the only sacrifice for sin, and that is a complete one, and needs no other to be added to it; but this was in the cause of Christ, and for the confirmation of the Gospel, and the faith of the saints in it: so covenants have been confirmed by libations or drink offerings of wine; and this was an offering acceptable unto God, in whose sight the death of his saints is precious; as the wine in the drink offering is said to cheer God, that is, to be acceptable to him: and the time of my departure is at hand; death is not an annihilation of man, neither of his body, nor of his soul; the one at death returns to dust, and the other to God that gave it; death is a dissolution of soul and body, or a dissolving of the union that is between them, and a resolution of the body into its first principles; hence the Syriac version renders it, "the time in which I shall be dissolved"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "the time of my resolution". Death analyzes men, and reduces them to their first original earth; it is a removing of persons from one place and state to another; from an house of clay, from this earthly house of our tabernacle, to an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, to everlasting habitations, and mansions in Christ's Father's house. This phrase, "a departure", is an easy representation of death, and supposes an existence after it; See Gill on Phi 1:23. Now there is a "time" for this; saints are not to continue here always; this is a state of pilgrimage, and a time of sojourning, and which is fixed and settled; the time for going out of this world, as well as for coming into it, is determined by God, beyond which there is no passing; the number of men's days, months, and years, is with him; and the apostle knew partly from his age, and partly from his situation, being in bonds at Rome, and it may be by divine revelation, that his time of removing out of this world was very near; and which he mentions, to stir up Timothy to diligence, since he would not have him long with him, to give him counsel and advice, to admonish him, or set him an example.

But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the church] have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles... Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.

Ye presbyters, "feed the flock which is among you," till God shall show who is to hold the rule over you. For "I am now ready to be offered," that I "may win Christ."

I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; there is laid up for me the crown which the Lord will give me on that day" -doubtless of his suffering.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.". There now remains for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me in that day; and not only to me, but to all also who love His appearing."

He did not add next something like “he will deliver me out of the mouth of the lion,” for he saw in the spirit that his death was all but at hand. So he adds to his words, “And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” He says: “The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom,” indicating his speedy martyrdom, which he foretells even more clearly in the same writing, when he says, “For I am even now ready to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution is at hand.”

"For I am now ready to be poured out, and the time of my departure is at hand." He has not said of my sacrifice; but, what is much more, "of my being poured out." For the whole of the sacrifice was not offered to God, but the whole of the drink-offering was.

Let me say something about this; I am helped, you see, by their words, which have gone out to the ends of the whole wide world. Notice first of all his holy act of pouring himself out. He said he was being immolated, not that he was dying. It is not because one who is immolated doesn’t die but that not everyone who dies is immolated. So being immolated he is dying for God. The word is taken from sacrifice. Everything that is sacrificed is slaughtered for God.

Hear Paul the apostle first acknowledging grace and afterwards seeking what was owed. What is the acknowledgment of grace in Paul? He “was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and contumelious,” he says, “but I obtained mercy.” He said that he was unworthy to obtain it, but that he obtained it not by his own merits but by the mercy of God. Hear him now ready to receive what is owed, he who had first accepted unmerited grace. He says, “For I am even now ready to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice.” Now he demands what is owed. Now he exacts what is to be paid. For look at the following words: “Which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day.”

Paul calls his destruction a libation, as if his blood were poured out for the sake of true religion.

Paul does not say libor but delibor, that is, enduring death in the confession of Christ as a libation of wine is poured out on behalf of honoring God.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. For I, Paul says, already offer myself as a sacrifice to Christ. And he did not say sacrifice, but a drink offering, indicating something greater and more sacred. For a part of the sacrifice alone was offered to God as incense. But the entire drink offering was dedicated to Him. And Paul himself commands his disciples to do this, saying: "Present your members as a living sacrifice." (Rom. 12:1) For he who sacrifices for Christ performs a sacred service himself. — [OECUMENIUS] The meaning of "being am poured out" is, as it were, that I break the war against all. Neither fighting nor being fought against, for I am perfected. of my departure. For departure means death, either because of the departing from the earth from which we were taken; or towards the Creator Christ. [end of the excerpt by Oecumenius Π f.169r; A f.182v; B f. 220v; G f.309v—310r] —

He did not say "I am being offered as a sacrifice," but something stronger. For in a sacrifice, not everything is offered to God, whereas a drink offering of wine was offered in its entirety.

Above, he advised him to be instant in preaching, and this for the benefit of his audience as well as for Timothy himself; here he presents the third reason, namely, on the part of the Apostle: the reason being that he would be taken from this world soon: first, he predicts that his death is imminent; second, he asks for a visit, at "make haste to come" (2 Tim 4:9). In regard to the first he does two things: first, the imminence of his death is foretold; second, his feeling of security, at "I have fought a good fight." In regard to the first he does two things: first, he describes the sufferings he endured; second, he foretells the death he is awaiting, at "the time of my dissolution is at hand." In regard to the first he says: "for I am even now ready to be sacrificed." As if to say: I will be sacrificed very soon, for the sufferings of the saints are called a sacrifice: "and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice" (Phil 2:17); "I will sacrifice to you a sacrifice of praise," i.e., by suffering for you (Ps 115:17). In ancient times when sacrifices were being offered, the moist elements, which were called the firstfruits, were poured out and tasted: "if the firstfruit be holy, so is the lump also" (Rom 11:17); hence the sufferings of the saints were called outpourings. And although I have experienced them for some time, "the time of my dissolution is at hand." But there are two kinds of dissolution, namely, of the soul from the body: "and the dust shall return into its earth from whence it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it" (Eccl 12:7); the other dissolution is that of the body into dust: "you are dust, and unto dust you shall return" (Gen 3:19).

The apostle charges Timothy to be diligent, incessant, and faithful in his preaching; to watch, suffer patiently, and give full proof of his ministry, Ti2 4:1-5. He predicts his own approaching death, and expresses the strongest confidence of being eternally happy, Ti2 4:6-8. Desires Timothy to come and see him; shows that several had forsaken him, that others were gone to different districts, and that he had only Luke with him, Ti2 4:9-12. Desires him to bring the cloak, book, and parchments, which he had left at Troas, Ti2 4:13. Of Alexander the coppersmith's opposition, Ti2 4:14, Ti2 4:15. Tells Timothy how he was deserted by all when obliged to make his first defense before Nero; how God supported him, and the confidence with which he was inspired, Ti2 4:16-18. Salutations to different persons at Ephesus, and from different persons at Rome, Ti2 4:19-21. The apostolical benediction, Ti2 4:22.

For I am now ready to be offered - Ηδη σπενδομαι· I am already poured out as a libation. See the note on Phi 2:17. He considers himself as on the eve of being sacrificed, and looks upon his blood as the libation which was poured on the sacrificial offering. He could not have spoken thus positively had not the sentence of death been already passed upon him.

SOLEMN CHARGE TO TIMOTHY TO DO HIS DUTY ZEALOUSLY, FOR TIMES OF APOSTASY ARE AT HAND, AND THE APOSTLE IS NEAR HIS TRIUMPHANT END: REQUESTS HIM TO COME AND BRING MARK WITH HIM TO ROME, AS LUKE ALONE IS WITH HIM, THE OTHERS HAVING GONE: ALSO HIS CLOAK AND PARCHMENTS: WARNS HIM AGAINST ALEXANDER: TELLS WHAT BEFELL HIM AT HIS FIRST DEFENSE: GREETINGS: BENEDICTION. (2Ti. 4:1-22) charge--Greek, "adjure." therefore--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. the Lord Jesus Christ--The oldest manuscripts read simply, "Christ Jesus." shall judge--His commission from God is mentioned, Act 10:42; his resolution to do so, Pe1 4:5; the execution of his commission, here. at his appearing--The oldest manuscripts read, "and" for "at"; then translate, "(I charge thee before God . . . ) and by His appearing." and his kingdom--to be set at His appearing, when we hope to reign with Him. His kingdom is real now, but not visible. It shall then be both real and visible (Luk 22:18, Luk 22:30; Rev 1:7; Rev 11:15; Rev 19:6). Now he reigns in the midst of His enemies expecting till they shall be overthrown (Psa 110:2; Heb 10:13). Then He shall reign with His adversaries prostrate.

Greek, "For I am already being offered"; literally, as a libation; appropriate to the shedding of his blood. Every sacrifice began with an initiatory libation on the victim's head (compare Note, see on Phi 2:17). A motive to stimulate Timothy to faithfulness--the departure and final blessedness of Paul; it is the end that crowns the work [BENGEL]. As the time of his departure was indicated to Peter, so to Paul (Pe2 1:14). my departure--literally, "loosing anchor" (see on Phi 1:23). Dissolution.