Bible Commentaries
2 Timothy 4

Verse 1

Quick ; living.

Appearing ; in glory to judge the world.

Kingdom ; which shall then be fully consummated.

Verse 2

In season ; at regular times of public worship.

Out of season ; at occasional seasons, when it can be done to advantage.

Verse 3

Sound doctrine ; such as is revealed in the word of God, and adapted to promote the spiritual good of men.

Teachers ; who will not condemn their favorite sins.

Itching ears ; wishing for new teachers and new doctrines, and multiplying those who will amuse and flatter them.

Verse 4

Turn away-from the truth ; because it condemns them.

Fables ; mystical speculations and frivolous stories.

Verse 5

Watch ; be sober, earnest, and vigilant, as the original word implies.

Evangelist ; a minister of Christ, who went from place to place preaching the gospel, gathering churches, and assisting in establishing the institutions of Christianity.

Make full proof of thy ministry ; or, as in the margin, fulfil thy ministry; discharge its duties faithfully and thoroughly. While ministers of Christ have opportunity they should be most diligently and conscientiously employed in preaching the gospel, as they do not know how soon their opportunities will cease.

Verse 6

Offered ; poured out as a drink-offering. My blood is about to be poured out for my attachment to Christ.

Verse 7

A good fight ; more literally, the good fight; that, namely, prescribed to me by my Lord. The word in the original is one used of the Grecian games. Compare 1 Corinthians 9:26 ; 1 Timothy 6:12 .

Finished my course ; the Christian race appointed me. This is another allusion to the Grecian games. Compare Philippians 3:12-14 .

Verse 8

To the faithful minister, the close is the most joyful period of life. Evils, natural and moral, are behind, and all before is blessedness and glory.

Verse 10

Having loved ; this life and its enjoyments so much that he left Rome to avoid the danger of losing them.

Verse 11

Luke ; the writer of the gospel.

Mark ; Acts 12:25 ; Acts 13:5 ; Acts 15:37 ; Colossians 4:10 .

Verse 13

The parchments ; skins prepared, on which the more costly of the ancient books were written. Whether these were the writings of the apostle, or the writings of others, or merely materials for writing, is not known.

Verse 15

Ministers of the gospel are bound to be wise as well as harmless; to foresee evils and avoid them. Although they are not to be afraid of men, they are to beware of them; and so to act as not needlessly to put themselves in their power.

Verse 16

My first answer ; his first hearing, probably during his present imprisonment, before the Roman emperor or a court commissioned by him. The word first implies a subsequent hearing which he had already had or expected soon to have.

Verse 17

Out of the mouth of the lion ; according to some, literally, by being saved from death by wild beasts. According to others, the words are figuratively spoken of the Roman emperor Nero.

Verse 18

From every evil work ; not from persecution even to death, for this the apostle expected; but from receiving any spiritual injury through the evil works of his enemies. God would keep his faith steadfast amid all his trials, and grant him a perfect and everlasting victory over them. Should godly ministers or private Christians in the hour of death be absent from earthly friends, they will not be alone. That Friend who loves them, and can do for them infinitely more than all others, will be with them; and when flesh and heart fail, he will be the strength of their heart, and their portion for ever. Psalms 73:26 .

Verse 19

The household of Onesiphorus ; see note to chap 2 Timothy 1:16 .