2 Timothy 4:2-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Observe, I. How awfully this charge is introduced (2Ti. 4:1): I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. Observe, The best of men have need to be awed into the discharge of their duty. The work of a minister is not an indifferent thing, but absolutely necessary. Woe be to him if he preach not the gospel, 1Cor. 9:16. To induce him to faithfulness, he must consider, 1. That the eye of God and Jesus Christ was upon... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 4:1-5

4:1-5 I charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead--I charge you by his appearing and by his Kingdom--herald forth the word; be urgent in season and out of season; convict, rebuke, exhort, and do it all with a patience and a teaching which never fail. For there will come a time when men will refuse to listen to sound teaching, but, because they have ears which have to be continually titillated with novelties, they will bury themselves under a mound... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 4:1-5

There can be few New Testament passages where the duties of the Christian teacher are more clearly set out than here. The Christian teacher is to be urgent. The message he brings is literally a matter of life and death. The teachers who really get their message across are those who have the note of earnestness in their voice. Spurgeon had a real admiration for Martineau, who was a Unitarian and therefore denied the divinity of Jesus Christ which Spurgeon believed in with passionate... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Paul goes on to describe the foolish listeners. He warns Timothy that the day is coming when men will refuse to listen to sound teaching and will collect teachers who will titillate their ears with precisely the easy-going, comfortable things they want to hear. In Timothy's day it was tragically easy to find such teachers. They were called sophists (compare Greek #4680 ) and wandered from city to city, offering to teach anything for pay. Isocrates said of them: "They try to attract... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word ,.... Either Christ the essential Word, who is the sum and substance of the Gospel ministry; or the word of truth and faith, the Gospel of salvation, the word of righteousness, peace, and reconciliation by Christ; which is to be preached, or published, in like manner as heralds proclaim the will of their princes; openly, publicly, and with a loud voice, without adding to it, or taking from speaking out the whole, and keeping back no part of it; and that with all courage and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come ,.... This is a reason of the solemn charge above given: the time referred to was future, when the apostle wrote, but quickly came on; and the characters of it have appeared more or less in all ages since; and in none more than in ours: when they will not endure sound doctrine ; the Gospel which contains the wholesome words of Christ, and is sound itself, having no corruption in it, and salutary in its effects to the souls of men; and yet such is the depravity of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word - Κηρυξον τον λογον· Proclaim the doctrine, the doctrine of Christ crucified, for the sins of the whole world; the doctrine, that the Gentiles are invited to be fellow heirs with the Jews, and that for Jews and Gentiles there is no salvation but by faith in Christ. Be instant in season, out of season - Επιστηθι ευκαιρως, ακαιρως . Be urgent whether the times be prosperous or adverse, whenever there is an opportunity; and when there is none, strive to make one. The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come - There is a time coming to the Church when men will not hear the practical truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine of "deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me," which Jesus Christ has left in his Church. But after their own lusts - For these they will follow, and hate those preachers and that doctrine by which they are opposed. Shall they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 4:2

Verse 2 2Be instant in season, out of season By these words he recommends not only constancy, but likewise earnestness, so as to overcome all hindrances and difficulties; for, being, by nature, exceedingly effeminate or slothful, we easily yield to the slightest opposition, and sometimes we gladly seek apologies for our slothfulness. Let us now consider how many arts Satan employs to stop our course, and how slow to follow, and how soon wearied are those who are called. Consequently the gospel... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 4:3

Verse 3 3For there will be a time (193) From the very depravity of men he shews how careful pastors ought to be; for soon shall the gospel be extinguished, and perish from the remembrance of men, if godly teachers do not labor with all their might to defend it. But he means that we must avail ourselves of the opportunity, while there is any reverence for Christ; as if one should say that, when a storm is at hand, we must not labor remissly, but must hasten with all diligence, because there will... read more

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