The Third Part of the Chapter.
Vers. 18. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the Prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.
The third part contains his Exhortation to Timothy, that hee would behave himself couragiously in his Mi∣nistry, viz. That hee would war a good warfare, or that hee would prepare himself to fight against all enemies, and all impediments, and would use all diligence that the Church might receive no detriment by any one.
According] The Arguments of his Exhortation are two:
Arg. 1. Because certain things are foretold Prophe∣tically of pious men, by a kinde of divine instinct, which afford great hope of famous actions to bee done by thee (as appears out of Act. 16.2.) Therefore war a good warfare.
Vers. 19. Holding fast faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwrack.
Hee explains his Exhortation, by shewing the manner of warring, to wit, that hee would defend faithfully, and profess sound Doctrine, and by an holy life according to the truth preached by him, that hee would maintain the light and peace of a good conscience, which would in∣wardly acquaint him with his duty towards God, and men, if hee would attend to it, and would administer comfort to him, if hee suffered for defending the truth.
Which being put away] Arg. 2. Because ••••less thou behave thy self with a good courage, and observest this law of war concerning the joyning of a good consci∣ence, with the profession of the faith, there is danger upon the loss of a good conscience that thou make ship∣wrack of sound Doctrine, or the profession of the faith, as some have done: Therefore war a good warfare. In the mean time hee casts in no scruple here to Timothy a∣bout the uncertainty of perseverance, but uses the best and most effectual argument to perswade him to it. For it makes nothing in Hypothetical propositions, that the parts of it, taken by themselves, and Categorically, may bee false or impossible; It is sufficient to the truth of the rule annexed, that the connexion of the parts is cer∣tain.
Vers. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
The Apostle names two Apostates for example, Hy∣meneus and Alexander, whom hee had not long before delivered unto Satan, i. e. excommunicated; For they that are cast out from the face of God, shining in the Church, fall into the kingdome of Satan, as to the con∣dition of the outward man, or the enjoyment of Church priviledges. The end of this Excommunication hee shews to bee this, That being led to repentance, they might return to a right knowledge and profession of the truth; For the Apostle doth not declare any thing concerning the total loss of faith in Christ, but on the contrary hopes for their repentance, and their possible salvation hereafter.