2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:1-22 . 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.

1. 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, Acts 10:42 ; his resolution to do so, 1 Peter 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 ( Luke 22:18 Luke 22:30 , Revelation 1:7 , 11:15 , 19:6 ). Now he reigns in the midst of His enemies expecting till they shall be overthrown ( Psalms 110:2 , Hebrews 10:13 ). Then He shall reign with His adversaries prostrate.

2. Preach--literally, "proclaim as a herald." The term for the discourses in the synagogue was daraschoth; the corresponding Greek term (implying dialectial style, dialogue, and discussion, Acts 17:2 Acts 17:18 , Acts 18:4 Acts 18:19 ) is applied in Acts to discourses in the Christian Church. JUSTIN MARTYR [Apology, 2], describes the order of public worship, "On Sunday all meet and the writings of the apostles and prophets are read; then the president delivers a discourse; after this all stand up and pray; then there is offered bread and wine and water; the president likewise prays and gives thanks, and the people solemnly assent, saying, Amen." The bishops and presbyters had the right and duty to preach, but they sometimes called on deacons, and even laymen, to preach. EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 6.19]; in this the Church imitated the synagogue ( Luke 4:17-22 , Acts 13:15 Acts 13:16 ).
be instant--that is, urgent, earnest, in the whole work of the ministry.
in season, out of season--that is, at all seasons; whether they regard your speaking as seasonable or unseasonable. "Just as the fountains, though none may draw from them, still flow on; and the rivers, though none drink of them, still run; so must we do all on our part in speaking, though none give heed to us" [CHRYSOSTOM, Homily, 30, vol. 5., p. 221]. I think with CHRYSOSTOM, there is included also the idea of times whether seasonable or unseasonable to Timothy himself; not merely when convenient, but when inconvenient to thee, night as well as day ( Acts 20:31 ), in danger as well as in safety, in prison and when doomed to death as well as when at large, not only in church, but everywhere and on all occasions, whenever and wherever the Lord's work requires it.
reprove--"convict," "confute."
with, &c.--Greek, "IN (the element in which the exhortation ought to have place) all long-suffering ( 2 Timothy 2:24 2 Timothy 2:25 , 3:10 ) and teaching"; compare 2 Timothy 2:24 , "apt to teach." The Greek for "doctrine" here is didache, but in 2 Timothy 3:16 , didascalia. "Didascalia" is what one receives; "didache" is what is communicated [TITTMANN].