2 Timothy 4:4

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 4:4

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth ,.... The solid truths of the Gospel, not being able to bear the hearing of them: and shall be turned unto fables ; things idle, trifling, useless, and, unprofitable; and which are no better than old wives' fables; some respect may be had either to Jewish fables, or to the miraculous mythologies of the Gentiles, or of the Gnostics, and others: but in general, it includes everything that is vain, empty, and senseless; and this is to be... read more

Adam Clarke

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

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth - The truth strips them of their vices, sacrifices their idols, darts its lightnings against their easily besetting sins, and absolutely requires a conformity to a crucified Christ; therefore they turn their ears away from it. And shall be turned unto fables - Believe any kind of stuff and nonsense; for, as one has justly observed, "Those who reject the truth are abandoned by the just judgment of God to credit the most degrading... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:1-8

The last charge. The words of this chapter have the peculiar interest which attaches to the last words of one who was prominent above his fellow men, and they have this striking character, that the apostle, knowing that the time of his departure was at hand, when the great work of his life must cease as far as he was concerned, was intensely solicitous that the work should go on after his death with uninterrupted course and with undiminished force. It is one of the features of the holy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Solemn charge to Timothy. I. CHARGED TO BE FAITHFUL IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES . 1 . Witnessing the charge. 2 . Particulars of the charge. These are given in rapid succession, without connecting words, by which there is gain in force. II. ARGUMENT DRAWN FROM A DISTURBED FUTURE . 1 . The intolerableness of sound doctrine. "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine." The sound or healthful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:3-4

The waywardness and restiveness of so called Christians afresh incentive to fidelity in ministers. This is an argument from the future to tell upon present duty. I. THE REASON OF THE APOSTASY . "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine." 1 . The gospel doctrine is sound, because it necessitates a holy life, and holds the gratification of sinful passions to be inconsistent with the hopes of salvation. 2 . Evil men cannot endure it, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 4:4

Will turn for they shall turn, A.V.; turn aside for shall be turned, A.V. Will turn away, etc. The sober, sound doctrine of the Word of God, teaching self-discipline, humility, and purity of heart and life, will not assuage their itching ears, and therefore they will turn away from it, and go after more congenial fables—those taught by the heretics. Turn aside ( ἐκτραπήσοναι ); as 1 Timothy 1:6 , note. Fables ( μύθους ); see 1 Timothy 1:4 ; 1 Timothy 4:7 ; Titus... read more

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