II. TIMOTHY. This Epistle was written (A.D.
66) from Home, in the interval between one trial
of the apostle before the Emperor, and that at
which he was condemned to death
(iv. 16, 17).
He viewed his case as desperate
(iv. 16), and his
martyrdom as imminent
(iv. 6–8);
and he entreats
Timothy to come to him at once
(iv. 9, 21),
to be with him at his last trial. It has all the
tone of a farewell letter to a loved friend; full
of love
(i. 1–5), encouragement
(i. 6–ii. 15), warning
(ii. 16–iii. 9), adjuration
(iv. 1–5), concluding
with personal matters
(iv. 6–22).
The Epistle furnishes a noble view of the consolation afforded by Christianity in the midst of
suffering, and face to face with death. It alludes
to a few otherwise unknown incidents of the life
of Paul, between his two imprisonments; also of
Timothy, viz. the falling away from the former of
some Asiatic converts of note
(i. 15); the injury
done him by Alexander, mentioned in
Acts xix. 33; the lapse of Demas
(iv. 10);
his reconciliation with Mark
(iv. 11);
another visit to Corinth and Miletus
(iv. 20),
and probably Troas
(iv. 13); and Timothy's presence with him on his first journey
(iii. 11); the
names of his grandmother and mother, and his
consecration by Paul
(i. 5, 6).
TITUS, a Greek by birth, was consecrated by
Paul, and was the first Christian convert who
was not circumcised, but was taken by Paul to
Jerusalem to try the matter, when the Council
decided against its necessity
(Gal. ii. 3; Acts xv.).
It is not known when the Church in Crete was
founded, but it is probable that it was after Paul's
first imprisonment, on his way to Asia, and that he
then left Titus in charge of it. His position was
one of peculiar difficulty: the people had sunk
into gross immorality, instability, and lying. Paul
advises his deputy upon the course he should
take. The Epistle resembles the first to Timothy,
was probably written about the same time, and
gives a condensed code of instruction on doctrine,
morals, and discipline.
Summary.
I. Apostolic salutation. II. Church
Organization: (a) Qualifications of elders, &c.; (b) Suppression of false teachers (i.); (c) The Christian character of aged men and women, young of both sexes, and servants (ii.). III. Personal advice to Titus (iii.).
