occasion to recommend preparation for the last judgment, the time of which is always uncertain, and adds a variety of practical precepts. He concludes with his usual benediction. "

a

This Epistle is written in terms of high commendation, earnestness, and affection.

Thessalonian Christians having lamented the death of some of their friends, after the manner of the Heathen, who sorrowed as

having no hope that they should meet again.

a v.

PART II.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH.

OF THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.

I. THE OCCASION OF THIS EPISTLE BEING WRITTEN, AND ITS DATE. II. SUBSTANCE OF THIS EPISTLE.

I. It is generally believed that the messenger, who carried the former Epistle into Macedonia, upon his return to Corinth, informed St. Paul that the Thessalonians had inferred, from some expressions" in it, that the coming of Christ and the final judgment were near at hand, and would happen in the time of many, who were then alive. The principal design of this second Epistle to the Thessalonians was to correct that error, and prevent the mischief which it would naturally occasion. It was written from Corinth, and probably at the end of the year

52.

II. St. Paul begins with the same salutation as in the former Epistle, and then expresses his devout acknowledgments to God for the increasing faith and mutual love of the Thessalonians in the midst of persecutions; he represents to them the rewards which will be bestowed upon the faithful, and the

punishment which will be inflicted upon the disobedient at the coming of Christ; he earnestly entreats them not to suppose, as upon authority from him, or upon any other ground, that the last day is at hand; he assures them, that before that awful period a great apostasy will take place, and reminds them of some information which he had given them upon that subject when he was at Thessalonica; he exhorts them to steadfastness in their faith, and prays to God to comfort their hearts, and establish them in every good word and work; he desires their prayers for the success of his ministry, and expresses his confidence in their sincerity; he cautions them against associating with idle and disorderly persons, and recommends diligence and quietness. He adds a salutation in his own hand, and concludes with his usual benediction.c

PART II.

CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH.

OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY.

1. HISTORY OF TIMOTHY.—II. DATE OF THIS EPISTLE. III. DESIGN AND SUBSTANCE OF IT.

b

I. TIMOTHY was a native of Lystra in Lycaonia; his father was a Gentile; but his mother, whose name was Eunice, was a Jewess", and educated her son with great care in her own religion. In the beginning of this Epistle, Paul calls Timothy his "own son in the faith;" from which expression it is inferred, that Paul was the person who converted him to the belief of the Gospel; and as, upon Paul's second arrival at Lystra, Timothy is mentioned as being then a disciple, and as having distinguished himself among the Christians of that neighbourhood, his conversion, as well as that of Eunice his mother, and Lois his grandmother, must have taken place when St. Paul first preached at Lystra, in the year 46. Upon St. Paul's leaving Lystra, in the course of his second apostolical journey, he was induced to take Timothy with him, on account of his excellent character, and the zeal which, young as he was, he had already shown in the cause of

a

Acts, xvi. 1.

b 2 Tim. i. 5. iii. 15.

c 1 Tim. i. 2.

Christianity; but before they set out, Paul caused him to be circumcised, not as a thing necessary to his salvation, but to avoid giving offence to the Jews, as he was a Jew by the mother's side, and it was an established rule among the Jews, that partus sequitur ventrem." Timothy was regularly appointed to the ministerial office by the laying on of hands, not only by Paul himself, but also by the Presbytery. From this time Timothy constantly acted as a minister of the Gospel; he generally attended St. Paul, but was sometimes employed by him in other places; he was very diligent and useful, and is always mentioned with great esteem and affection by St. Paul, who joins his name with his own in the inscription of six of his Epistles. He is sometimes called Bishop of Ephesus; and it has been said that he suffered martyrdom in that city, some years after the death of St. Paul.

II. We are now to consider the date of this Epistle, concerning which the learned are by no means agreed. From the third verse of the first chapter, "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia," it is generally admitted that St. Paul wrote this Epistle in Macedonia, that he had lately come thither from Ephesus, and that he had left Timothy in that city;

a 2 Tim. i. 6.

b 1 Tim. iv. 14.

C

Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, first and second of ThessaNamely, the second of the lonians, and Philemon.