2 Timothy 3

So he makes the doctrine of free grace a key to open the door to all licentiousness. 5. Another thing to unsettle Christians, is persecutors (2 Timothy 3:12). The Gospel is a rose that cannot be plucked without prickles.

It is easy to commit idolatry with the creature. 1. Some make a god of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:4): [illegible], lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Whatever we love more than God, we make a god.

It is very suspicious where there is no growth, there wants a vital principle. Some instead of growing better, grow worse; they grow more earthly, more profane (2 Timothy 3:13). Evil men proficient in Pejus, shall wax worse and worse.

Because he loves his estate more than God, and so he makes it his God: though he does not bow down to an idol, yet he worships the graven image in his coins; he is an idolater: that which has most of the heart, that we make a God. 2. If we love our pleasures more than God, we ma…

How many mercies have we to allure us to obey! Miracles of mercy; therefore the apostle joins these two together, disobedient and unthankful (2 Timothy 3:2). And this dyes a sin of a crimson color.

Answ. The Word of God (which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, etc. By Scripture is understood the sacred book of God — it is…

Matthew 10:16. Be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. The Apostle says, All Scripture is of divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). God's Word is compared to a lamp, for its enlightening quality (Psalm 119:105), and to silver refined, for its enriching quality (P…

3. The third counterfeit of Sanctification is hypocrisy; when men make a pretence of that holiness which they have not. A [reconstructed: comet] may shine like a star; such a luster shines from their profession as dazzles the eyes of the beholders (2 Timothy 3:5). Having a form…

Austin says his mother Monica traveled more for his spiritual birth, than his natural. Timothy's mother instructed him from a child (2 Timothy 3:15). She did not only give him her breast milk, but the sincere milk of the Word.

The word written comes with authority; it shows its commission from heaven: Thus says the Lord — It is of divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). The oracles of Scripture must be surer to us than a voice from heaven (1 Peter 1:18).

Think, O Christian, what affliction leads to, it leads to Paradise, where are rivers of pleasure always running; may not this make us cheerfully submit to God's will, and say, Lord if there be so much kindness in affliction, if all you do is to make us happy, Your will be done.…

Every bird that has fine feathers has not sweet flesh. All that shine with the golden feathers of profession are not saints: (2 Timothy 3:5) [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], Having a form of godliness, but denying the power. What is a lifeless form?

It is not to be denied that the whole Scripture is serviceable to the faith of God's Elect; and it all some way or other leads to Christ; and for this reason is the Scripture called the word of Faith (1 Timothy 4:6). And it is all of it to be believed, because it is all true, an…

(1) Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12, 13. (2) Titus 1:7, 8, 9; 2 Timothy 3:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. (3) 1 Peter 5:2, 3.

The end therefore God granted his word to the Church, was, that thereby it might be instructed in his mind and will, as to what concerns the worship and obedience that he requires of us, and which is accepted with him. This the whole Scripture itself everywhere declares and spea…

First, moral evils, contrary to the light of nature, and express commands or prohibitions of the moral law, direct rules of the Gospel, or of evil report in the world among men walking according to the rule and light of reason. And in cases of this nature, the Church may proceed…

Q. What particular uses are the Scriptures profitable for? A. For the teaching of true doctrine, and convincing the contrary, for correction or reformation of errors in life, and for instructing to good duties (2 Timothy 3:16). Q. Are the Scriptures a complete and sufficient rul…

I answer first; We refuse no traditions, which are agreeable to the Scripture, and analogy of faith: but such as are agreeable to one of these, we receive them, though not as Scripture. Secondly, if the Apostles in the New Testament do add anything in any story, which is not in…

Thus he dealt with his servant Job, though there were none for piety like him in his time, through all the world. Now, God has his servants among us: for the trial of whose faith, we may persuade ourselves, some tribulation shall come upon us; For, all that will live godly in Ch…

Hence Paul says, That we must come to heaven through manifold afflictions, Acts 14:23. The Lord knows what is best for his servants and children: and therefore he has set down this for a ground, that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:…

Now, howsoever it may be thought but a small fault, not to profit in Religion: yet undoubtedly it is a fearful Judgment of GOD, when the hearers of the word in any congregation are daily taught, and do not profit thereby: and therefore the holy Ghost noteth those women to be lad…

[illegible], that is, with a firm resolution to abide in, and pursue the obedience they were called to. So Paul tells Timothy, that he knew his doctrine, manner of life and purpose (2 Timothy 3:10), namely, how his principal aim, design and resolution was to abide in and carry o…

This must be the Touchstone of his light and experience. And it is suited to his whole work, to all the duties of it (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). In nothing but what is regulated hereby are any to be attended to (Isaiah 8:20).

He would not have them always stand at the porch, but enter into the sanctuary, and behold the hidden glories of the house of God. Elsewhere he complains of them who are always learning, that is in the way of it, under the means of it, but yet by reason of their negligence and c…

The next thing ascribed to them is [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩]. Patience, say we, that is, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩]; but these Graces are expressly distinguished, 2 Timothy 3:10. [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩]; Faith, Long-suffering, Patience; so plainly Colossians 1:11. [⟨in non-Lati…

We cannot but fear such judgement is more rigorous then Charity will allow; for the Scripture tells us, that the tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 12 & 7), and, that even a childe is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right (Proverbs 20:11), and t…

As when Paul forbids them to eat with such an one (1 Corinthians 5:11) he means it, as a consequent upon (and so implying an injunction of) church-censure. Vid. Dickson in a Thes. 3:14. & in Romans 16:17. & in 2 Timothy 3:5. Again, how came Esau to lose his membership?

But such are all habitual sinners; those who having prevalent habits and inclinations to sins of any kind unmortified, do walk according to them. Such are profane swearers, drunkards, fornicators, covetous, oppressors, and the like, who shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Co…

Therefore take heed of serving him in a loose and perfunctory manner, you dishonor God exceedingly else, even then when you come to give honor to him. 3. There must be a willing subjection of our hearts and lives to his laws: it must be a subjection of the heart; God's authority…

Testimony 4. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: The whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, being made perfect for every good work. In these words are contained two…

It is gross hypocrisy for us to pretend to more holiness, reverence, and devotion in the act of receiving than Christ himself, or than the Apostles did, when Christ himself was there bodily present with them. We must follow the example of Christ and his Apostles, except where th…

And when they give themselves up to a constant internal converse with the desires of the flesh, the pleasures and advantages of sin, with delight and approbation, sin may reign triumphantly in them, though no appearance be made of it in their outward conversation. Such are they…

To this the answer is easy. 1. As we collect the actions and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and the institution of the last supper, not from any one of the Evangelists, but from all of them compared together, for that one touches what another omits; so do we judge of the office-bea…

Theology as a complex of spiritual gifts — Extraordinary or ordinary gifts — Ordinary gifts peculiar to the ministry or common to all — Christ the bestower of all gifts (Psalm 68:19; Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8) — The Hebrew word signifies both to receive and to give — Christ the a…

What sort of persons they gathered into Christ's fold they themselves everywhere teach. They were born again, called with a holy and effectual calling, godly, faithful, holy, washed, justified, separated from the world and from all evil, children of God, instructed and anointed…

The study of theology, therefore, is nothing other than the effort, directed according to the norm of the divine word, to promote the saving light and the spiritual gifts in which this heavenly wisdom consists in the mind of the theologian. This Scripture itself teaches us every…

Instruction out of the scripture, is by the daily reading of the same with them, both to make them acquainted with the course of them, so that they may mark the same for their better profiting, by the allegations of the public ministry, also to refer those things which are plain…

A seventh reason is from the deceitfulness of our heart, and the natural corruption that sticks to us; there is naturally in us, pride and self-conceit, we are disposed and given to think anything that is our own, though it be but a show, is as good as others' reality; to think…

Or if you shall read them and not make conscience to improve them to your souls' edification and advantage; which contain more genuine, pure, sincere, solid, and substantial Gospel than many thousands have heard it may be in an age, though hearing preachings much of the while. E…

Nor does the growing in grace which lies on us, by an obligation of a command, stop the way to the journeying toward perfection and heaven, nor shorten the cut to heaven, because heaven is not attainable in this life; but on the contrary, if perfection were attainable in this li…

The Spirit is free, why will you control and rule it by the Law, whereas the nature of the Spirit is freely to conform the heart and life to the outward rule of the Law without the help of the Law, as a crooked thing is made straight according to the line and square, and not by…

It would deliver his soul, if he did but consider that there was a lie in the other way, and he flatters himself in his good estate before God, and considers not the truth of the thing; he thinks he is as fair a dealing man as any of them all, but his heart deceitful, and desper…

The third point is that they which are to be teachers must first be taught, and they must teach that which they have first learned themselves. "Abide in the things which you have learned" (2 Timothy 3:14). Christ taught that which he heard of the Father; the apostles that which…

5. On the contrary, they are wretched and miserable that live without the Gospel (Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 4:3; 2 Timothy 3:7). 6.

Let us here observe diligently that the prophecies were not written for the men of one age alone, but also for their children and all posterities which should be instructed, to the end they might learn to shun that hardness of heart which was in their forefathers (Psalm 78:6-8)…

I confess the doctrine of the holy Scriptures has many other uses. For they not only contain in them matter that is meet and profitable to comfort the weak and afflicted, but also sharp rebukes and threatenings against the obstinate (2 Timothy 3:16). But Isaiah here shows, that…

Accordingly, by this mark Christ distinguishes his own martyrs from criminals and malefactors. I now return to what I said a little before, that as, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus "(Paul informs us), shall suffer persecution," (2 Timothy 3:12,) this admonition has a ge…

Thus Paul brings a charge against the false teachers of his age, that they lead captive silly women laden with sins, (2 Timothy 3:6.) 15. For you compass sea and land.

It is even now at hand, they shall not escape. As Saint Paul also says (2 Timothy 3): Their madness shall be evident to all men, that they may be confounded. God open their eyes and grant them grace to turn to him by true and earnest repentance, and to forsake and detest these t…

And Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of such, saying, Behold the Lord comes with thousands of his Saints, to give judgment against all men: This place is not anywhere read in the Scripture: which is another reason why some of the ancient Fathers would not admit and r…