| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, |
Paul – Wrote this last Epistle in 66 AD to Timothy, who was then Pastor of the Ephesus Church. R4526:3
Paul had lived for a while in a house in Rome, was released for about three years. He revisited some of the churches, and took the gospel to Spain. He was again arrested, and put into prison in Rome, where he wrote this Epistle. Nero raised a terrible persecution against the Christians at this time, apparently to cover up his setting the city on fire. Paul was beheaded shortly after. R2229:1-3, 3210:2
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| 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. |
To Timothy – It is presumed that at the time of his receipt of this letter Timothy must have been about 40 years of age. Tradition has it that he was about 16 years old at this time of his own and his mother's conversion. R2165:2
Dearly beloved son – Although Paul had no natural children, his tender address to Timothy, his invocation upon him of a divine blessing, shows that he lacked none of those fine, noble and endearing sentiments which belong to a true parent. R2165:3
Because Paul felt great confidence in Timothy as a successor for the general "care of all the churches," he sent him special warnings, commendations and prophecies respecting the Church's future. R4526:3
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| 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; |
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| 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; |
Of thy tears – When they parted at Ephesus, in the interest of the truth. (Acts 20:37) R2165:3, 1886:1*
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| 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. |
In thee also – As a result of favorable parental influence. R1671:3
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| 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the laying on of my hands. |
Stir up – Re-enkindle. R2165:6
The gift – The gifts of the Spirit, common in the early Church, followed the laying on of Apostolic hands. F284
Of my hands – The fact that the apostle Paul had this power to confer the gifts of the spirit is proof that he was the Lord's choice for Judas' place, as none but the apostles could confer these gifts. R1433:3[R1433], 1419:2
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| 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. |
Us – Children of God, who have left the world, who have been begotten of the holy Spirit. R5093:3
The spirit – Disposition. D326; R3325:6, 2560:5, 1737:5, 1693:2, 1414:1, 1412:5, 1081:1, 1079:3
Of fear – The new creature must repel every attack of servile fear and must cultivate trust in the Lord. R5977:3
Doubt, lack of faith, lack of the holy Spirit. E249
Spirit of dread; spirit of timidity. R5093:6, 4378:3
Servile fear, which belongs to the flesh, the fallen condition. R5977:3
We should not be fearful, men-pleasers, or sycophants. R2263:4
All fear, being a manifestation of one form of selfishness, is made up of the elements of self-love. The spirit of fear does not come from God. R5094:1
The "spirit of fear" may be made a valuable servant of the new creature, but it is an intolerable master. Make it your watchdog, kenneled just outside the door of your heart, to guard your treasures of holiness, joy, peace, love and fellowship. E197
But of power – Courage. R4378:6
Strength, firmness for everything that is right. R5094:2
Energy, zeal, awakened by love. R2166:1
Making us "mighty to the pulling down of strongholds." (2 Cor. 10:4) E250
In proportion as we get this spirit, we get this power, or spirit of assurance that God is able and willing to work things together for good. (Rom. 8:28) R5094:2, 5977:6
"Othodoxy" fails to see that the spirit of love and of a sound mind is a power. R1122:2
Power to govern the whole being as we grow up toward the stature of the fullness of Christ--complete in him. R1414:1, 1081:2
Not begotten of self-esteem but based upon faith in the Lord. R4378:3
And of love – Not "natural" love, which is largely selfish, but a generous self-sacrificing love. E250
Inspired by a true knowledge of God. R5977:6, 4379:1
The spirit of kindness and gentleness, enabling the Christian to have more and more compassion for those who are out of the way. R5977:6, 5094:4
Forgiveness should be prompted by the spirit of love and brotherly kindness and not forced out of us by importunity nor by pity for the wrong doers' suffering or sorrow. R1693:6
In proportion to the measure of the holy Spirit which we have, we shall have love--first, toward God; secondly, to the children of God; thirdly, to our neighbors and friends; and lastly, to our enemies. R5094:3
And of a sound mind – Implying that the world in general does not have such a mind. R3773:2
Only those who are begotten again of the holy Spirit have this spirit. R3972:2
From God's standpoint, this is a new mind. E257; R5093:3, 3773:2, 1414:1
The mind of Christ, his spirit, his mind. R3325:6, 5888:3
A mind that is fortified and strengthened by the Word of the Lord on every subject; wise in judging of times, seasons and methods for using the energy of love which burns as a fire within the consecrated heart. R2166:1
The spirit of a sound mind is the most desirable thing in the world. R5099:3, 1414:1, 1081:1
A mind in a sound healthy condition, and in full possession of all its faculties. R1412:6, 1079:3
Enabling its possessor to view things more correctly, giving wisdom and grace for the affairs of life far beyond any that they would have had without it. R2263:3,4
An unsound mind results from the mental and moral unbalance brought about through sin. R1080:4
Strictly speaking, there is not a perfectly sound mind in the world. R1412:6, 1080:1
The right attitude of mind. R2685:6
Free from bias or prejudice in any direction. R1412:6, 4407:5
This spirit leads us to consider what is right and what is wrong in all the affairs of life. R5094:5
The spirit of reason and justice. R5942:6, 4485:2
The spirit of love and reasonableness. R5417:6
As we grow in the spirit of a sound mind, we learn better how to deal with others, so as to be in harmony with the divine will, the divine spirit. R5417:2
In choosing a means of livelihood, the decisive question would be, In which avocation can I best serve the Lord? R5358:2
We are to discriminate between those who are good subjects for the truth, and those who are not. R5376:4
A spirit so necessary to a clear understanding, and to obedience, of the truth. R1412:5
Our minds are all imperfect and unsound. When we are guided by the Lord's will as expressed to us in his Word, then we come to have the spirit of a sound mind. R5726:3
Our minds become more and more sound by reason of their harmony with God's mind, and as ours become submissive to His. Q452:3; R5843:5, 5978:1; Q44:7
Under the guidance of the holy Spirit, Christians learn gradually to rectify the errors of their own judgments in respect to all the various questions which come before them. E253
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." (James 1:5) R1777:1
Gossips and busy-bodies in other men's matters give one evidence of an unsound mind--a measure of insanity. R1413:2, 1080:2
The spirit of devils produces the spirit of an unsound mind. R2185:2
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| 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; |
Be not thou ashamed – The truth is to be spoken humbly, yet fearlessly. R5978:1
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| 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, |
Who hath saved us – From Adamic sin and its penalty through Jesus our propitiation. R643:5
Called us – The fore-ordained church is now being called, and tested, and selected, for participation in the divine nature--and joint-heirship with Jesus Christ. R1642:3, 3282:4
An holy calling – All the Gospel church are called to heavenly conditions and are cut off from their earthly rights as men. R5023:2, 1881:4; Q436:1
Our works – We are called not by any past evidence of our worthiness. R1642:2
His own purpose – That this new order of beings should be selected from among the human order. R1642:3
That the overcomers may be joint-heirs with Jesus in his coming work of judging the world. (1 Cor. 6:2) R2990:3
God's purpose was to make a "new creation," of his own nature--the divine nature--and his beloved Son, our Lord, was to be the chief, or head. R1642:3
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| 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: |
Now made manifest – God's purpose and grace is now made manifest. (See verse 9.) R625:6
By the appearing – Life, immortality and sonship have only been since the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. R530:3*
Jesus Christ – We are dependent on Christ for both life and immortality. R27:5*
He came to give his life a ransom-price, to give life that corresponded to the life that Adam lost. R5418:1
Abolished death – Vanquished death. R194:2
Obtained the right to do so by giving his life a ransom for all. (1 Tim. 2:6) R252:3, 726:3, 62:4*
Broke death's hold on man. E393
Death is not a friend, but an enemy. God regards death as the penalty, the wages of sin. R625:6
Hath brought life – A restitution from destruction for those who shall attain to life as perfect human beings. A204, A206; E393; R4155:5, 422:2, 339:4
Life everlasting. R1655:5
Knowledge and opportunity for eternal life did not obtain in the world until our Lord came. R4598:2, 5775:3, 5507:2
Represented by the Queen's chamber of the Great Pyramid. C368
"If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14) E383
And immortality – Greek, aptharsia; meaning incorruption. It is the death-proof condition of the divine nature and the "prize" for which the Body of Christ is running. A204, A206; E397; F727; R3175:2, 2339:4, 1641:5
Represented by the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid. C368
The high calling for believers. R422:2, 339:4
Immortality is a quality only of the divine nature and was originally possessed only by the heavenly Father. Whoever will attain to this highest order or degree of existence, will obtain it as a reward or gift. R1641:6
An indestructible existence, not dependent upon food or drink, or conditions of any kind. R1641:5
"God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:40) R1095:6
Life everlasting for the world, and immortality for the Church. SM545:T; R5608:3, 5088:6
The narrow way to life was not opened up until Jesus came. T28
The offer of immortality is exclusively confined to those who are associates with Jesus and will now suffer with him. CR444:1
The immortality class is the little flock, the joint heirs who shall be associated with Christ as members of His body, those to whom it will be His pleasure to give glory, honor, and immortality. HG132:3
To light – Clearly to light. R1655:5
It is the gospel, not the Lord's living, dying, or resurrection, that brought this to light. This gospel was not fully understood by the apostles until they had received the Holy Spirit. Q335:4
Before Jesus Christ the future life was not made known, not brought to light. R5772:2, 217:5; Q12:2; SM43:3, 538:1
There was no kingdom seed, no kingdom promises and hopes planted, until Christ came. R3769:3, 637:6*
The fact that our Savior brought these to light demonstrates that they were not seen before. Although there had been an intimation given to Abraham, yet everything looked contrary to this. R5608:3, 1095:5
The first feature of God's plan of salvation began to be manifested when our Lord Jesus came into the world. R5275:5
Neither life nor immortality had been disclosed or made accessible previous to the gospel--the "great salvation which began to be preached by our Lord." (Heb. 2:3) E393; OV43:2
Through the gospel – The voice of God by Jesus Christ proclaiming glad tidings of the coming kingdom. R810:3*
The good tidings of blessings for all of humanity who would seek him in honesty and earnestness of heart. R5275:5
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| 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. |
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| 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. |
I am not ashamed – From the worldly standpoint the true follower of Jesus is branded a fanatic, a fool, unbalanced. But from the Christian's standpoint, the view is reversed. R4501:5
Persuaded that he – Christ. E346; R1881:2
That which I have committed unto him – Referring to life. Paul does not fear losing the Divine nature and eternal life. R140:2
Against that day – The day of Christ, the Millennial day. E346
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| 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. |
Form of sound words – Ignoring the traditions and creeds of uninspired men and corrupt systems. R369:3
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| 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us. |
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| 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. |
Which are in Asia – Evidently including even the Antioch church. F277
Phygellus and Hermogenes – False teachers who arose in the Church of Ephesus. R2221:4
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| 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: |
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| 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
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| 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. |
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