Ttímótaìhòushū 4

1 Wǒ zaì shén miànqián , bìng zaì jiānglái shĕnpàn huó rén sǐ rén de Jīdū Yēsū miànqián , píng zhe tāde xiǎnxiàn hé tāde guódù zhǔfu nǐ .

2 Wù yào chuán dào . wúlùn dé shí bùdé shí , zǒng yào zhuān xīn , bìng yòng bǎibān de rĕnnaì , gèyàng de jiàoxun , zébeì rén , jǐngjiè rén , quànmiǎn rén .

3 Yīnwei shíhou yào dào , rén bì yànfán chún zhèng de dàolǐ . ĕrduo fā yǎng , jiù suícóng zìjǐ de qíngyù , zēngtiān hǎoxiē shīfu .

4 Bìngqiĕ yǎn ĕr bù tīng zhēn dào , piān xiàng huāng miǎo de yányǔ .

5 Nǐ què yào fán shì jǐnshèn , rĕnshòu kǔnàn , zuò chuán dào de gōngfu , jìn nǐde zhífèn .

6 Wǒ xiànzaì beì jiāo diàn , wǒ lí shì de shíhou dào le .

7 Nà mĕihǎo de zhàng wǒ yǐjing dǎ guo le . dāng pǎo de lù wǒ yǐjing pǎo jìn le . suǒ xìn de dào wǒ yǐjing shǒu zhù le .

8 Cóngcǐ yǐhòu , yǒu gōngyì de guānmiǎn wèi wǒ cún liú , jiù shì àn zhe gōngyì shĕnpàn de zhǔ dào le nà rì yào cìgĕi wǒde . búdàn cìgĕi wǒ , yĕ cìgĕi fán aì mù tā xiǎnxiàn de rén .

9 Nǐ yào gǎnjǐn de dào wǒ zhèlǐ lái .

10 Yīnwei dǐ mǎ tān aì xiànjīn de shìjiè , jiù lí qì wǒ wǎng tiē sā luó ní jiā qù le . gé lè shì wǎng jiā lā taì qù . tí duō wǎng tà Mǎtaì qù .

11 Dú yǒu lù jiā zaì wǒ zhèlǐ . nǐ lái de shíhou yào bǎ mǎ kĕ daì lái . yīnwei tā zaì chuán dào de shì shang yú wǒ yǒu yìchu . ( chuán dào huò zuò fúshì wǒ )

12 Wǒ yǐjing dǎfa tuī jī gǔ wǎng Yǐfúsuǒ qù .

13 Wǒ zaì tè luó yà liú yú jiā bù de nà jiàn waìyī , nǐ lái de shíhou kĕyǐ daì lái . nàxiē shū yĕ yào daì lái . gèng yàojǐn de shì nàxiē pí juàn .

14 Tóng jiàng yà lì shān dà duō duō de haì wǒ . zhǔ bì zhào tā suǒ xíng de bàoyìng tā .

15 Nǐ yĕ yào fángbeì tā . yīnwei tā jílì dídǎng le wǒmen de huà .

16 Wǒ chū cì shēn sù , méiyǒu rén qián lái bāngzhu , jìng dōu lí qì wǒ . dàn yuàn zhè zuì bù guīyǔ tāmen .

17 Wéiyǒu zhǔ zhàn zaì wǒ pángbiān , jiā gĕi wǒ lìliang , shǐ fúyin beì wǒ jìn dōu chuán míng , jiào waìbāngrén dōu tīngjian . wǒ yĕ cóng shīzi kǒu lǐ beì jiù chūlai .

18 Zhǔ bì jiù wǒ tuōlí zhū bān de xiōngè , yĕ bì jiù wǒ jìn tāde tiānguó . yuàn róngyào guī gĕi tā , zhídào yǒng yǒngyuǎn yuǎn . āmén .

19 Wèn bǎi Jīlā , yà jū lā , hé a ní sè Fú yī jiā de rén ān .

20 Yǐlā dū zaì gē lín duō zhù xià le . tè luó fēi mó bìng le , wǒ jiù liú tā zaì Mǐlì dū .

21 Nǐ yào gǎnjǐn zaì dōngtiān yǐqián dào wǒ zhèlǐ lái . yǒu yǒu bù luó , bù tián , lì nú , gé lǎo dǐ yà , hé zhòng dìxiōng , dōu wèn nǐ ān .

22 Yuàn zhǔ yǔ nǐde líng tóng zaì . yuàn ēnhuì cháng yǔ nǐmen tóng zaì .

Ttímótaìhòushū 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

The apostle solemnly charges Timothy to be diligent, though many will not bear sound doctrine. (1-5) Enforces the charge from his own martyrdom, then at hand. (6-8) Desires him to come speedily. (9-13) He cautions, and complains of such as had deserted him; and expresses his faith as to his own preservation to the heavenly kingdom. (14-18) Friendly greetings and his usual blessing. (19-22)

Verses 1-5 People will turn away from the truth, they will grow weary of the plain gospel of Christ, they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them. People do so when they will not endure that preaching which is searching, plain, and to the purpose. Those who love souls must be ever watchful, must venture and bear all the painful effects of their faithfulness, and take all opportunities of making known the pure gospel.

Verses 6-8 The blood of the martyrs, though not a sacrifice of atonement, yet was a sacrifice of acknowledgment to the grace of God and his truth. Death to a good man, is his release from the imprisonment of this world, and his departure to the enjoyments of another world. As a Christian, and a minister, Paul had kept the faith, kept the doctrines of the gospel. What comfort will it afford, to be able to speak in this manner toward the end of our days! The crown of believers is a crown of righteousness, purchased by the righteousness of Christ. Believers have it not at present, yet it is sure, for it is laid up for them. The believer, amidst poverty, pain, sickness, and the agonies of death, may rejoice; but if the duties of a man's place and station are neglected, his evidence of interest in Christ will be darkened, and uncertainty and distress may be expected to cloud and harass his last hours.

Verses 9-13 The love of this world, is often the cause of turning back from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ. Paul was guided by Divine inspiration, yet he would have his books. As long as we live, we must still learn. The apostles did not neglect human means, in seeking the necessaries of life, or their own instruction. Let us thank the Divine goodness in having given us so many writings of wise and pious men in all ages; and let us seek that by reading them our profiting may appear to all.

Verses 14-18 There is as much danger from false brethren, as from open enemies. It is dangerous having to do with those who would be enemies to such a man as Paul. The Christians at Rome were forward to meet him, ( Acts 28 ) , but when there seemed to be a danger of suffering with him, then all forsook him. God might justly be angry with them, but he prays God to forgive them. The apostle was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, that is, of Nero, or some of his judges. If the Lord stands by us, he will strengthen us in difficulties and dangers, and his presence will more than supply every one's absence.

Verses 19-22 We need no more to make us happy, than to have the Lord Jesus Christ with our spirits; for in him all spiritual blessings are summed up. It is the best prayer we can offer for our friends, that the Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirits, to sanctify and save them, and at last to receive them to himself. Many who believed as Paul, are now before the throne, giving glory to their Lord: may we be followers of them.

Chapter Summary

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, 2Ti 4:1,2. 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, 2Ti 4:3,4. 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, 2Ti 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, 2Ti 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, 2Ti 4:7 and of his firm belief of eternal glory and happiness, 2Ti 4:8 and next he desires Timothy to use all diligence to come quickly to him, 2Ti 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, 2Ti 4:10-13 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, 2Ti 4:14,15 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, 2Ti 4:16-18 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, 2Ti 4:19-22.