An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

CHAP. III.

IN this Chapter hee strengthens and confirms Timothy, and in him all Pastors, against false Brethren, Schis∣maticks, and Hereticks, and against troubles, which they were like to create to the sincere servants of God. (1) Describing their dispositions and manners, to vers. 8. (2) Comforting and arming him against the dispositions and arts of false Teachers, to the end, which are the two parts of the Chapter.

Vers. 1. This know also, that in the last daies, perilous times shall come.

The first part of the Chapter, and the first way of arming him, is a fore-warning him of false brethren that should arise, and were then risen up, and of the troubles which they should cause, that being fore-seen they might the less hurt: The last daies, are the time which remains after the ascension of Christ to his second comming. The summe of his fore-warning is this, The times are dange∣rous and troublesome, wherein it is an hard thing to bee advised how to carry thy self towards these kind of Monsters, which shall come out of the bosome of the Church, with whom to conflict is most troublesome: Therefore thou hadst need arm thy self.

Vers. 2. For men shall bee l••vers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to Parents, unthankful, unholy,

The faults to which the false Brethren were addicted hee recites nineteen. (1) They are lovers of themselves, i. e. they mind their own private advantage, not regar∣ding the salvation and benefit of others. (2) They are covetous, or lovers of mony. (3) Boasters▪ or disdainful, who betray the inward pride of their minds by disdain∣fulness. (4) Proud, preferring themselves before o∣thers, and contemning them in comparison with them∣selves. (5) Blasphemers, who make nothing of injuring the reputation of others. (6) Disobedient to Parents, i. e. Despising the lawful authority of those who ought to bee honoured by them, as if they were Parents, (7) Un∣thankful, whom thou canst not hire with good turns, to require thee with love. (8) Unholy, or destitute of the true desire of holiness.

Vers. 3. Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

(9) Without natural affection, so much, that they re∣gard not the bonds of nature. (10) Truce-breakers, who make no account of covenants, but violate them. (11) False accusers, who with feigned calu••••ies 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the innocency of others. (12) Incontinent, who let out themselves to all kind of carnal pleasures. (13) Fierce, who are of a rugged and ill-natured disposition. (14) Despisers of those that are good, who because of their dif∣ferent dispositions, abhor the friendship of good men, and hate them.

Vers. 4. Traitours, heady, high-minded, lovers of plea∣sures, more than lovers of God,

(15) Traitors, who hazzard the lives of their friends that deserve well from them. (16) Heady, or rash, who are carried which way soever the force of their lusts drive them. (17) High-minded, who please themselves most out of a vain opinion of their own excellency. (18) Who prefer their own pleasures before the will and commands of God.

Vers. 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(19) Having a form of godliness, which they make shew of in words and profession, the power whereof in their works they so little regard, that they seem to ab∣jure and deny it: Hee commands him to shun these, i. e. After admonitions and reproofs by the gender censures of the Church, at length being excluded the Church by ex∣communication, to beware of them, and restrain them, and by any other prudent course repress them, that the Church may not receive any detriment by them.

Vers. 6. For of this sort are they which creep into hou∣ses, and ••ead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Hee proceeds in his describing the false Brethren, and in the example of some deceivers of his time, hee sets them out as it were before their eyes, who for their bel∣lies sake did cunningly insinuate themselves into the fami∣lies of others, and led captive certain of the lighter sort of women, and did not free them from, or unbur∣then them of their sins wherewith they were laden, as they promised, but brought them into greater servi∣tude, and multiplied their sins; Hee propounds two causes of the deceiving these women. (1) Because those women were transported with divers lusts and affections, which they could not subdue.

Vers. 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

(2) Because not contented with the Doctrine receiv∣ed from the Apostles, through the curiosity and instabi∣lity of their minds, alwaies sought after now thing••, ac∣commodated to their lust: Therefore though they seem∣ed willing to learn, yet it was impossible for them to at∣tain to the Knowledge of saving Truth.

The Second Part.

Vers. 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Mo∣ses, so do these also resist the Truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the Faith.

The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein hee comforts Timothy, or the faithful Pastor, against the prevalency of this evil; and that by ten Arguments. All which prove that hee ought to bee comforted in the midst of his conflicts.

Now as] Arg. 1. Because the true Preachers of the Gospel suffer the same from these Impostors, which Mo∣ses and Aaron suffered from the Magicians of Egypt un∣der Pharaoh: whose names, the Apostle having learned by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, sets them down to their perpetual disgrace, and a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto others.

The Truth] Arg. 2. Because this sort of men are ad∣versaries unto the Truth, and true Pastors because of the Truth.

Of corrupt] Arg. 3. Because seeing they are of cor∣rupt minds, such as have their judgements depraved with corrupt affections, and reprobate concerning the Faith, who by the obstinacy of their minds, and the corruption of their judgements, have debarred themselves of the sound Doctrine of Faith, true Pastors ought the less to regard their judgements and opinions.

Vers. 9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall bee manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Argum. 4. Specially looking to those Impostors in whom hee had instanced▪ Because they shall not any fur∣ther

carry on their designs undiscovered to the Church, nor shall so proceed, as to deceive all by their hypocrisie (as if they were Orthodox) as they had done heretofore: For the Apostle had determined to manifest their folly unto all, by fastning upon them the mark of Excom∣munication.

Vers. 10. But thou hast fully known my Doctrine, man∣ner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,

11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto mee at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I indured; but out of them all the Lord delivered mee.

Argum. 5. Because hee had Paul for a lively and fa∣miliar example: (1) Of the vertues that are required in a Pastor, in Doctrine, Life, and those four special vertues, which hee reckons up. (2) In persecutions, which hee underwent in three places, which hee names, for the defence of the Gospel. (3) In the happy issue, and deliverance from all those troubles through the grace of God.

Vers. 12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Iesus, shall suffer persecution.

Arg. 6. Because it is the common lot, not onely of Pastors, but of all Christians, to suffer afflictions, and persecutions for the Gospels sake.

Vers. 13. But evil men, and seducers, shall waxe worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Arg. 7. Because it cannot bee avoided, but obstinate Impostors, and false brethren, will waxe worse and worse, and will bring themselves and others to destruction by their errors; which it concerned Timothy to know and consider of, that he trouble not himself too much about it, but reverence the deep judgements of God, and com∣fort himself.

Vers. 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

Arg. 8. Propounded by way of Exhortation, Because it concerned him onely to discharge his duty faithfully, and according to his utmost ability, to defend the Do∣ctrine of the Gospel which was committed to him.

Knowing] Arg. 9. Confirming the former, Because hee was sufficiently instructed in the truth of the hea∣venly Doctrine by the Apostle of Christ, whom hee knew to bee an approved Apostle.

Vers. 15. And that from a childe thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Iesus.

Arg. 10. Confirming the former Exhortation pro∣pounded in the former verse, and proving also the Pro∣position: The Doctrine which thou hast learned of mee, and which is now committed to thee to defend, is agree∣able to the Doctrine of the holy Scripture, and the Pro∣phets: Therefore continue thou in these things, bee thou stablished in the truth, and comforted.

Which are able] Hee inlarges this Argument from these five Considerations: (1) I know thou hast been brought up, and conversant in the Scriptures from a childe. (2) The Scripture is able to furnish thee with saving wisdome, which consists in the knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ.

Vers. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Cor∣rection, for Instruction in Righteousness.

(3) All Scripture is given by inspiration, therefore it is of Divine Authority. (4) All Scripture tends to the teaching those things that are true, and reproving the things that are false, in matters belonging to faith, and the correction of evil manners, and instruction in things that are good.

Vers. 17. That the man of God may bee perfect▪ throughly furnished unto all good works.

(5) Lastly, The Scripture can make the man of God, or the Pastor of the Church perfectly meet to all the parts of his Office, and to every good work, which God requires from him, whether to the saving himself, or others, and the glory of God: Therefore continue thou in those things which thou hast learned of mee according to the Scrip∣ture, seeing thou hast the Scripture near thee, as a Trea∣sury, from whence thou mayest fetch whatever may make thee perfect, and fully render thee compleat to every good work.