2Ti 2:14, 24-25, 1Pe 5:3 | JFB | STEP | 14. them-- those over whom thou dost preside ( ). charging-- Greek, "testifying continually": "adjuring them." before the Lord-- ( ). that they strive not about words-- rather, "strive with words": "not to have a (mere) war of words" ( , 24; ) where the most vital matters are at stake ( , 18; ). The oldest manuscripts put a stop at "charging them before the Lord" (which clause is thus connected with "put them in remembrance") and read the imperative, "Strive not thou in words," &c. to no profit-- not qualifying "words"; but Greek neuter, in apposition with "strive in words," "(a thing tending) to no profit," literally, "profitable for nothing"; the opposite of "meet for the master's use" ( ). to the subverting-- sure to subvert (overturn) the hearers: the opposite of "edifying" (building up) ( ).

‏ 2 Timothy 2:14

14. them--those over whom thou dost preside (Tit 3:1).

charging--Greek, "testifying continually": "adjuring them."

before the Lord--(1Ti 5:21).

that they strive not about words--rather, "strive with words": "not to have a (mere) war of words" (2Ti 2:23, 24; 1Ti 6:4) where the most vital matters are at stake (2Ti 2:17, 18; Ac 18:15). The oldest manuscripts put a stop at "charging them before the Lord" (which clause is thus connected with "put them in remembrance") and read the imperative, "Strive not thou in words," &c.

to no profit--not qualifying "words"; but Greek neuter, in apposition with "strive in words," "(a thing tending) to no profit," literally, "profitable for nothing"; the opposite of "meet for the master's use" (2Ti 2:21).

to the subverting--sure to subvert (overturn) the hearers: the opposite of "edifying" (building up) (2Co 13:10).

‏ 2 Timothy 2:24-25

24. not strive--"The servant of the Lord" must imitate his master in not striving contentiously, though uncompromising in earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 3; Mt 12:19).

gentle unto all men--"patient" (Greek, "patient in bearing wrongs") in respect to adversaries. He is to be gentle so that he may occasion no evils; patient so that he may endure evils.

apt to teach--implying not only solid teaching and ease in teaching, but patience and assiduity in it [Bengel].

25. instructing--Greek, "disciplining," instructing with correction, which those who deal in "uninstructive" or "undisciplined questions" need (see on 2Ti 2:23; 1Ti 1:20).

those that oppose themselves--Greek, "oppositely affected"; those of a different opinion.

if ... peradventure--Greek, "if at any time."

repentance--which they need as antecedent to the full knowledge (so the Greek for 'acknowledgment') of the truth" (1Ti 2:4), their minds being corrupted (2Ti 3:8), and their lives immoral. The cause of the spiritual ignorance which prompts such "questions" is moral, having its seat in the will, not in the intellect (Joh 7:17). Therefore repentance is their first need. That, not man, but God alone can "give" (Ac 5:31).

‏ 1 Peter 5:3

3. being lords--Greek, "lording it": implying pride and oppression. "Not that we have dominion over your faith."

God's heritage--Greek, "the inheritances," that is, the portions of the Church committed severally to your pastoral charge [Bengel]. It is explained by "the flock" in the next clause. However, in 1Pe 5:2, "flock of God which is among you," answering to "(God's) heritages" (plural to express the sheep who are God's portion and inheritance, De 32:9) committed to you, favors English Version. The flock, as one whole, is God's heritage, or flock in the singular. Regarded in relation to its component sheep, divided among several pastors, it is in the plural "heritages." Compare Ac 1:17, 25, "part" (the same Greek). Bernard of Clairvaux, wrote to Pope Eugene, "Peter could not give thee what he had not: what he had he gave: the care over the Church, not dominion."

being--Greek, "becoming."

ensamples--the most effective recommendation of precept (1Ti 4:12). Tit 2:7, "patterns." So Jesus. "A monstrosity it is to see the highest rank joined with the meanest mind, the first seat with the lowest life, a grandiloquent tongue with a lazy life, much talking with no fruit" [Bernard].