4:1 by (c-17) That is 'I testify or charge thee before God, and by the appearing.' 'By' may be taken as 'according to,' that is, the judgment is according to the power and glory of his appearing and his kingdom. Some authorities read 'at.' read more
4:2 convict, (d-12) Or 'reprove.' See 1 Timothy 5:20 . read more
4:4 turned (e-14) Or 'will be turned aside,' or 'have turned themselves aside.' Compare 1 Timothy 1:6 ; 1 Timothy 5:15 . Here their being already turned aside leads them to turn away their ear from the truth. read more
4:5 sober (f-4) This implies, not watching actively, nor being awake, but that sober clearness of mind resulting from exemption from false influences -- not muddled with the influence of what intoxicates. So we think of one when we say, He has a sober judgment. read more
St. Paul’s Last Messages and Counsels1-8. The Apostle, knowing that his days are fast drawing to a close, exhorts Timothy to increased diligence and earnestness in his teaching, in view of the imminence of a time of error and excitement. He refers to his approaching martyrdom, expressing his readiness for whatever may await him, and his confidence in the reward of his faithfulness.1. I charge thee] cp. 1 Timothy 5:21. And the Lord Jesus Christ] RV ’and of Christ Jesus.’At his appearing, etc.]... read more
IV.(1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.—The parchment, or papyrus, in the prison room of St. Paul on which, probably, Luke (2 Timothy 4:11), the faithful friend, was writing to the Apostle’s dictation, was nearly filled up. What has still to be said to the chief presbyter of the Church of Ephesus must be brief. But St. Paul would have the last words introduced by a most impressive preface. So before he sums up his directions and exhortations, he appeals to him in... read more
(2) Preach the word.—The language of the original here is abrupt and emphatic, written evidently under strong emotion and with intense earnestness. St. Paul charged his friend and successor with awful solemnity, as we have seen, “preach,” or proclaim. loudly and publicly, as a herald would announce the accession of his king. The exact opposite to what St. Paul would urge on Timothy is described by Isa. (Isaiah 56:10), when he speaks of God’s watchmen as “dumb dogs, who cannot bark, sleeping,... read more
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.—Timothy must bear in mind that things in the Church of Christ on earth will not change for the better. The great drag-net of the Church, in its wide sweep, would keep drawing into its meshes something of every kind. Errors now just apparent, he must remember, would attain more formidable dimensions. The thirst for novelties in doctrine, the desire for a teaching which, while offering peace to a troubled conscience, would yet... read more
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth.—This was the punishment of those who would only listen to what was pleasing to them, and which flattered instead of reproved their way of life. They became involved in the many various errors in doctrine which were then taught in the schools of the heretics, and they ended by turning away from every Christian truth. On the “fables” which they substituted for those great and eternal truths, see 1 Timothy 1:4. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Timothy 4:5
In view of this increasing opposition Timothy needed to keep alert (cool-headed, "wide awake" [Note: E.K. Simpson, The Pastoral Epistles, p. 154.] ) by avoiding false teaching. To do this he needed to maintain self-control under all circumstances. [Note: Earle, "2 Timothy," p. 411.] He needed to endure hardship willingly and to continue proclaiming the gospel to the lost. He would thereby carry out the ministry God had entrusted to him completely. Four more imperatives appear in this verse (cf.... read more