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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Duties of Bishops and Deacons. (a. d. 64.)
DUTIES OF BISHOPS AND DEACONS. (A. D. 64.) The two epistles to Timothy, and that to Titus, contain a scripture-plan of church-government, or a direction to ministers. Timothy, we suppose, was an evangelist who was left…
Qualifications of Deacons. (a. d. 64.)
QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS. (A. D. 64.) We have here the character of deacons: these had the care of the temporal concerns of the church, that is, the maintenance of the ministers and provision for the poor: they served…
The Mystery of Godliness. (a. d. 64.)
THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. (A. D. 64.) He concludes the chapter with a particular direction to Timothy. He hoped shortly to come to him, to give him further directions and assistance in his work, and to see that Christia…
Apostasy Foretold; Christian Liberty. (a. d. 64.)
APOSTASY FORETOLD; CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. (A. D. 64.) We have here a prophecy of the apostasy of the latter times, which he had spoken of as a thing expected and taken for granted among Christians, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17. I…
Exhortation to Godliness; Exhortation to Ministerial Duties. (a. d. 64.)
EXHORTATION TO GODLINESS; EXHORTATION TO MINISTERIAL DUTIES. (A. D. 64.) The apostle would have Timothy to instil into the minds of Christians such sentiments as might prevent their being seduced by the judaizing teache…
Directions Concerning Reproofs. (a. d. 64.)
DIRECTIONS CONCERNING REPROOFS. (A. D. 64.) Here the apostle gives rules to Timothy, and in him to other ministers, in reproving. Ministers are reprovers by office; it is a part, though the least pleasing part, of their…
Directions Concerning Widows. (a. d. 64.)
DIRECTIONS CONCERNING WIDOWS. (A. D. 64.) Directions are here given concerning the taking of widows into the number of those who were employed by the church and had maintenance from the church: Honour widows that are wi…
Directions Concerning Elders; Concerning Church Discipline. (a. d. 64.)
DIRECTIONS CONCERNING ELDERS; CONCERNING CHURCH DISCIPLINE. (A. D. 64.) Here are directions, I. Concerning the supporting of ministers. Care must be taken that they be honourably maintained (1 Timothy 5:17): Let the eld…
The Duty of Servants. (a. d. 64.)
THE DUTY OF SERVANTS. (A. D. 64.) I. Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations. Servants are here said to be under the yoke, which denotes both subject…
Excellence of Contentment; Evil of Covetousness. (a. d. 64.)
EXCELLENCE OF CONTENTMENT; EVIL OF COVETOUSNESS. (A. D. 64.) From the mention of the abuse which some put upon religion, making it to serve their secular advantages, the apostle, I. Takes occasion to show the excellency…
The Apostle's Solemn Charge; Caution to Rich. (a. d. 64.)
THE APOSTLE'S SOLEMN CHARGE; CAUTION TO RICH. (A. D. 64.) The apostle here charges Timothy to keep this commandment (that is, the whole work of his ministry, all the trust reposed in him, all the service expected from h…
Introduction; Timothy's Faith and Holiness. (a. d. 66.)
INTRODUCTION; TIMOTHY'S FAITH AND HOLINESS. (A. D. 66.) Here is, I. The inscription of the epistle Paul calls himself an apostle by the will of God, merely by the good pleasure of God, and by his grace, which he profess…
Cautions and Exhortations; Ministerial Fidelity. (a. d. 66.)
CAUTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS; MINISTERIAL FIDELITY. (A. D. 66.) Here is an exhortation and excitation of Timothy to his duty (2 Timothy 1:6): I put thee in remembrance. The best men need remembrancers; what we know we shou…
Ministerial Fortitude. (a. d. 66.)
MINISTERIAL FORTITUDE. (A. D. 66.) Having (2 Timothy 1:13-14) exhorted Timothy to hold fast, I. He mentions the apostasy of many from the doctrine of Christ, 2 Timothy 1:15. It seems, in the best and purest ages of the…
Ministerial Fortitude. (a. d. 66.)
MINISTERIAL FORTITUDE. (A. D. 66.) Here Paul encourages Timothy to constancy and perseverance in his work: Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:1. Observe, Those who have work to do for God must s…
Ministerial Encouragements. (a. d. 66.)
MINISTERIAL ENCOURAGEMENTS. (A. D. 66.) I. To encourage Timothy in suffering, the apostle puts him in mind of the resurrection of Christ (2 Timothy 2:8): Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from…
Cautions against Error. (a. d. 66.)
CAUTIONS AGAINST ERROR. (A. D. 66.) Having thus encouraged Timothy to suffer, he comes in the next place to direct him in his work. I. He must make it his business to edify those who were under his charge, to put them i…
Cautions against Error. (a. d. 66.)
CAUTIONS AGAINST ERROR. (A. D. 66.) Here we see what we may comfort ourselves with, in reference to this, and the little errors and heresies that both infect and infest the church, and do mischief. I. It may be a great…
Cautions against Contention. (a. d. 66.)
CAUTIONS AGAINST CONTENTION. (A. D. 66.) I. Paul here exhorts Timothy to beware of youthful lusts, 2 Timothy 2:22. Though he was a holy good man, very much mortified to the world, yet Paul thought it necessary to cautio…
Marks of Perilous Times. (a. d. 66.)
MARKS OF PERILOUS TIMES. (A. D. 66.) Timothy must not think it strange if there were in the church bad men; for the net of the gospel was to enclose both good fish and bad, Matthew 22:47-48. Jesus Christ had foretold (M…
Marks of Perilous Times; Excellence of the Scriptures. (a. d. 66.)
MARKS OF PERILOUS TIMES; EXCELLENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES. (A. D. 66.) Here the apostle, to confirm Timothy in that way wherein he walked, I. Sets before him his own example, which Timothy had been an eye-witness of, having…
Ministerial Duties; The Apostle's Joyful Expectation. (a. d. 66.)
MINISTERIAL DUTIES; THE APOSTLE'S JOYFUL EXPECTATION. (A. D. 66.) Observe, I. How awfully this charge is introduced (2 Timothy 4:1): I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the…
The Apostle's Directions to Timothy. (a. d. 66.)
THE APOSTLE'S DIRECTIONS TO TIMOTHY. (A. D. 66.) Here are divers particular matters which Paul mentions to Timothy, now at the closing of the epistle. 1. He bids him hasten to him, if possible (2 Timothy 4:9): So thy di…
The Apostle's Directions to Timothy; Salutations and Benedictions. (a. d. 66.)
THE APOSTLE'S DIRECTIONS TO TIMOTHY; SALUTATIONS AND BENEDICTIONS. (A. D. 66.) Here, I. He gives Timothy an account of his own present circumstances. 1. He had lately been called to appear before the emperor, upon his a…