A supplement to Dr. Hammond's paraphrase and annotations on the New Testament in which his interpretation of many important passages is freely and impartially examin'd, and confirm'd or refuted : and the sacred text further explain'd by new remarks upon every chapter / by Monsieur Le Clerc ; English'd by W. P. ; to which is prefix'd a letter from the author to a friend in England, occasion'd by this translation.

ANNOTATIONS On the Second Epistle Of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy.* 1.1 (Book 2 Timothy)

AT the end of the Premon.] Notwithstanding all that is here said by our Author, it is much more probable that St. Paul wrote this Epistle after his last Bondage, in the year of Nero XIII. and of Christ LXVII. a little before his death; as it is thought by Dr. Pearson, who has easily solved all the Difficulties which our Author here objects against that Opinion. I shall say something to them on Chap. iv.

CHAP. I.

Vers. 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] The sense of these words seems to be this; I thank God, that he gives me cause to make perpetual mention of you in my Prayers; that is, because thou adherest to the Gospel: for the Apostle did expresly make mention of those in his Prayers for whom he had a particular Affection, and whom he knew to be faithful to Christ. This may be gather'd from the beginning of most of his Epistles. See especially that to Philemon, vers. 4, and 5.

Vers. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] That is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which of a long time God had purposed to give us by Jesus Christ. He means the Gospel, which God had purposed should be preached both to Jews and Gentiles, as appears from vers. 10. That 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used for a long time, is evident from Tit. i.2. where see our Author, and Grotius upon this place. And that is said to be given, which is by a certain and immu∣table Counsel decreed to be given. So Virgil, Aeneid. 1. vers. 282. re∣presents Jupiter speaking thus concerning the Romans:

His ego nec metas rerum, nec tempora pono, Imperium sine sine DEDI.

See Note on Ephes. i.4.

* 1.2CHAP. II.

Vers. 16. Note b. THE place in Tertullian is in Chap. xxxiii. de Praeser. Haeret. where he speaks thus: Paulus in prima ad Corinthios notat negatores & dubitatores resurrectionis. Haec opinio propria Sadducaeorum. Partem ejus usurpat Marcion & Apelles & Valentinus. St. Paul in his first to the Corinthians marks those who de∣nied or doubted of the Resurrection. This opinion was peculiar to the Sad∣duces. Part of it is espoused by Marcion, &c. And a little after: Aeque tangit eos, qui dicerent factam jam resurrectionem, id de se Valen∣tiniani asseverant: He likewise takes up those that said the Resurrection was already past, which the Valentinians affirm of themselves. The rest which our Author says in this Annotation about the Verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and its Derivatives, and about 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a mere Medley, and perfect∣ly useless, I will not say to those that understand the Greek Language, but those also who can consult Lexicons, in which they may find these words more largely and better explained than they are here. I shall note only a few things concerning them.

I. Because while Cattel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are feeding, they wander out of one place into another, therefore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sometimes signifies to wander, as on the contrary the Latin word errare signifies to feed, as in that Verse of Virgil:

Mille meae Siculis errant in montibus agnae.

The same I may say of the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which we find in Numb. xiv.3. where the Vulg. Interp. renders the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 rohim by va∣gos, Wanderers. The Nomades in Scythia, and the Numidians in Africa, were really both Shepherds and Wanderers, so that they might be de∣nominated from both; which every one knows. But what is that to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of a Gangrene? Our Author ought to have produced Exam∣ples, which shewed that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is taken for the eating of a spreading Ul∣cer, of which there are several given by H. Stephanus. The Doctor alledges a Verse as out of Hesiod, which is Homers, in Iliad. Υ. v. 249. where 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is a profusion of words, with which any one feeds himself, as Eustathius on that place observes. Yet that word occurs in Hesiod in the same sense, in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. vers. 403. where the Poet admonishes Persa, that if he did not labour, there would come a time when he should beg with a great many words in vain:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 — A profusion of words will be useless.

II. There was no need of recurring to the Septuagint,* 1.3 to shew that the Verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies sometimes to shun, that being the use of it in the best Greek Writers, as Lexicographers will shew. And there∣fore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies to shun, because if we meet with any thing in our way which we would not run upon, and we cannot remove, we go round about it. Or if we would come nearer the proper signification of the Verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will be to stand about, that is, to stand still when we meet with any stumbling block, for fear of falling upon it. Suidas interprets 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 flying from or avoiding; and then he produces the place concerning Moses alledged by our Author, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: he always avoid∣ed a multitude, and Tumults especially.

CHAP. III.

WHat our Author says here about Simon's Contest and Flying, he took out of Caesar Baronius, as also other things of no great moment. See Baron. Annal. ad A. C. LXVIII. of Nero the 12th. But these things I have already elsewhere confuted. See especially what I have said on 2 Thess. ii.3. I shall only add, that the place which our Author refers to in Suetonius does not at all belong to this matter: it is in Chap. 12. of the Life of Nero, and the words are these: Inter Pyrrhicarum argumenta, Taurus Pasiphaen ligneo juvencae simulacro abditam iniit, ut multi spectantium crediderunt. Icarus primo statim conatu juxta cubiculum ejus decidit, ipsum{que} cruore respersit. Among the Arguments of the Pyrrich Sports (which Nero represented to the People) a Bull covered Pasiphae inclosed in an Engine of Wood made in the shape of an Heifer. One that acted the part of Icarus immediately, upon the first attempt fell down near the Emperor's Pavilion, and sprinkled him with his blood. What is there here about the Contest of Simon with S. Peter? Who does not see that Suetonius speaks of a poor miserable Wretch that was forced to attempt flying to make the People a show? We may be sure if any such Conflict had passed before Nero and the People, in the Amphitheatre, the fame of it would have been so great among the Heathens, that it would never have been forgotten. But these are the Fables of some idle Christians, which Posterity greedily took up.

* 1.4CHAP. IV.

Vers. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] Tho 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is properly said of the Wine which was poured out upon the Head of the Sa∣crifice yet here I think it ought to be understood me∣taphorically of the Sacrifice it self, upon which the Wine is poured out, a little before it is killed. So Hesychius: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. St. Paul uses the Present Tense, because of the nearness of the danger, as the Particle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 now shews. Our Author forces this place, when he interprets it of a past danger.

Ibid. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] This indeed is a Verb in the Preterperfect Tense, but it is very frequently taken for the Present; whence the Vulgar Inter∣preter, and almost all others, render it instat, is at hand. And that it is to be so understood, the foregoing words shew. So that our Author had no reason to interpret it in the Preterperfect Tense, in his Premo∣nition and Paraphrase of this Verse.

Vers. 7. Note a. It is true indeed, that St. Paul here uses Agonisti∣cal words; but as the Crown was due not to him who was yet run∣ning, but who was come to the end of his race, and that before others, so also God bestows a Crown not on him that behaves himself manfully in any particular Calamity, but during his whole Life. So that what St. Paul calls a good Combat, is the whole course of his Life, which he tells Timothy he had finished 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because he knew his Death was near, as the foregoing Verse sufficiently shews. What our Author says in his Note on Acts xxi.7. I have confuted already on that place. See 1 Tim. vi.12. and Acts xx.24.

The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seems here to be in the place of an Adjective, so as that, according to a known Hebraism, a Crown of Righteousness should be put for a righteous or just Crown, that is, a Crown justly due. This is confirmed by the Epithet Just added to the word Judg. The places which our Author produces, as if the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signified in them Felicity, I might shew to be improperly alledged, if it would contribute any thing to the illustration of St. Paul's words.

Vers. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] It is certain indeed that Ti∣mothy was present with St. Paul when he made his first Defence, but whether he could go again to Rome soon enough, to he there before St. Paul's Death, is somewhat questionable.

Vers. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] Our Author will not have Demas to have revolted from the Faith, but only, forsaking his Office of preach∣ing the Gospel, to have applied himself to worldly Affairs. But to love

the present age, signifies something worse than that, viz. to prefer it before the future; which he that forsakes an Office, which he finds himself insufficient for, does not. See Matt. xiii.22. and James iv.4.

Vers. 13. Note b. The Etymologicon Magnum hath it so, as Dr. Ham∣mond thinks the words of Phavorinus should be read; but in this matter I neither believe the Writer of the Etymologicon nor Phavorinus, be∣cause 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is not a Greek word, and signifies no such thing in the Latin Tongue. See Grotius.

Vers. 14. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] Dr. Hammond thinks St. Paul here has a reference to the Troubles he endured at Ephe∣sus, mention'd in Acts xix. but neither is it from that place sufficient∣ly evident what Alexander did against St. Paul; and if he did any thing, I do not think the Apostle here has a respect to that, but some∣thing which was done at Rome: for this Alexander seems to have gone from Asia to Rome, where he fiercely opposed S. Paul, and from thence returned to Asia; for which reason St. Paul here admonishes Timo∣thy to beware of him.

Vers. 16. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.] This cannot be understood of that Defence which St. Paul made for himself when he was first in bonds: for undoubtedly he would not have told Timothy a thing which he already very well knew, as having been present with him at that time, nor have said what was nothing to the purpose. He speaks of his pleading before him whom Nero at his departure into Greece left Governour of the City of Rome, by whom he was not presently condemned, but yet kept still in bonds, perhaps till Nero's Return, by which means many in the mean time had the Gospel preached to them. See Grotius on the following Verse, by whom it will appear, it was not well understood by our Author, in his Premonition to this Epistle.

Vers. 17. Note d. The mouth of the Lion does not, it's true, signify Nero, who seems at that time to have been in Greece, but Helius, to whom Nero committed the Government of Rome during his Absence. See Dr. Pearson in his Annal. Paulin. ad A. C. LXVII.

Vers. 18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] These words are alledged by our Au∣thor in his Premonition, to prove that St. Paul here speaks of a Dan∣ger he was deliver'd from. But the Apostle does not add 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, as Grotius well interprets it, from doing any thing unworthy of a Christian, or unworthy of an Apostle. This is clear from the next words, and will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdom; as Dr. Pearson also has observed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chapter I.
• * 1.2

  Chapter II.
• * 1.3

  Chapter III.
• * 1.4

  Chapter IV.