An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

How much it concerns Church-Officers to agree in matters of Religion. What means may conduce to it. Universities and Nurseries of Religion, of how great use they are to the Church of Christ.

How much it concerns Church-Officers to agree in matters of Religion. What meanes may conduce to it. Universities and Nurseries of Religion, of how great use they are to the Church of Christ.

2 COR. 1. 1. And Timothy our brother, &c.

WE are now to take notice of the second Description, that Timothy is adorned with, and that is a brother to Paul. He is called a brother, not in a large sense, as all believers likewise are, but because of a special relation, he being also a Church-officer, though in an inferior degree to Paul. And he styleth him brother, not only from his humility and low condescension: Of which already; but also to show his consent and agreement with Paul in all those things treated of in the Epistles. As he calls him Brother, so he often useth the compellation of a Son, because he was not only the instrument, either of conversion, or further institution of Timothy in the ways of Christ: but because in the ministration of the Gospel, Paul was a father to him, directing him how to manage his ministerial employment; and therefore he writeth two Epistles to him, which he doth to none else; and all are to direct and guide him in his Office. So that it was Timothy's great happiness to have such a Gamaliel, as Paul was, and to be brought up at his feet, as he was at Gamaliel's.

WE are now to take notice of the second Description, that Timothy is adorned with, and that is a brother to Paul. He is called a brother, not in a large sense, as all believers likewise are, but because of a special relation, he being also a Church-officer, though in an inferiour degree to Paul. And he styleth him brother, not only from his humility and low condescension: Of which already; but also to shew his consent and agreement with Paul in all those things treated of in the Epistles. As he calls him Brother, so he often useth the compellation of a Sonne, because he was not only the instrument, either of conversion, or further institution of Timothy in the wayes of Christ: but because in the ministration of the Gospel, Paul was a father to him, directing him how to manage his ministerial imployment; and therefore he writeth two Epistles to him, which he doth to none else; and all are to direct and guide him in his Office. So that it was Timothy's great happiness to have such a Gamaliel, as Paul was, and to be brought up at his feet, as he was at Gamaliels.