i. e. He is to meditate much on the great things of 1the Gospel. He is to be wholly in them, as the words 2literally import, which we read, he is to give himself wholly to them. He is to be continually increasing in the knowledge of God, and that so as not to know only to himself, but so as to make known what he knows. He is especially (tho' that be the common duty of Christians) to turn all to the use of Edifying, Eph. 4. 29. that his profiting may appear to all. For tho' Timothy was at this time a young man, yet the most grown, did always need to be still growing: None have here, attained their Ne plus ultra, but may still write for their Motto, Plus ultra, all their days; even Paul the Aged, as he writes himself to Philemon, tells the Philippians (both those Epistles being dated from Rome, and supposed to be ⟨p. 4⟩written about the same time, when he was first there) that he had not yet attained, in point of the transforming knowledge of Christ, chap. 3. 10, 11. And unto what pitch soever he grew, it was still in order to communication. He writes to the Corinthians, that he determined 3to know nothing among them; which is so to know, as to make known, nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. And to the Ephesians, that he would have them 4understand, his knowledge in the Mystery of Christ; no doubt that their Salvation might be promoted thereby. And hereupon, in great part, depends a Minister's own Salvation; as hereafter will further appear. But besides, he is to take heed to himself, and see to the good state of his own Soul; he is to take heed to his Doctrine, not to corrupt, or handle deceitfully the word of God, but represent it sincerely, and as the truth is in Jesus. He is to continue in them, i. e. in the things he before exhorts him to meditate on, and ⟨p. 5⟩be wholly in them; to continue in the Faith, of what was to be believed; and the Practice, of what was to be done; and in pressing and insisting on both. And all for the mentioned Ends, that he might both save himself, and those that hear him.
i. e. He is to meditate much on the great things of 1the Gospel. He is to be wholly in them, as the words 2literally import, which we read, he is to give himself wholly to them. He is to be continually increasing in the knowledge of God, and that so as not to know only to himself, but so as to make known what he knows. He is especially (tho' that be the common duty of Christians) to turn all to the use of Edifying, Eph. 4. 29. that his profiting may appear to all. For tho' Timothy was at this time a young man, yet the most grown, did always need to be still growing: None have here, attain'd their Ne plus ultra, but may still write for their Motto, Plus ultra, all their days; even Paul the Aged, as he writes himself to Philemon, tells the Philippians (both those Epistles being dated from Rome, and supposed to be ⟨p. 4⟩written about the same time, when he was first there) that he had not yet attain'd, in point of the transforming knowledge of Christ, chap. 3. 10, 11. And unto what pitch soever he grew, it was still in order to communication. He writes to the Corrinthians, that he determined 3to know nothing among them; which is so to know, as to make known, nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucify'd. And to the Ephesians, that he would have them 4understand, his knowledge in the Mystery of Christ; no doubt that their Salvation might be promoted thereby. And hereupon, in great part, depends a Minister's own Salvation; as hereafter will further appear. But besides, he is to take heed to himself, and see to the good state of his own Soul; he is to take heed to his Doctrine, not to corrupt, or handle deceitfully the word of God, but represent it sincerely, and as the truth is in Jesus. He is to continue in them, i. e. in the things he before exhorts him to meditate on, and ⟨p. 5⟩be wholly in them; to continue in the Faith, of what was to be believed; and the Practice, of what was to be done; and in pressing and insisting on both. And all for the mentioned Ends, that he might both save himself, and those that hear him.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 2In a better than the Poets sense, scire tuu•• nihil est.
- 31 Cor. 2. 2.
- 4Eph. 3. 4.
