Bible Commentaries

Clearly seeing trouble coming from the teaching of those who were ''holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof," the apostle referred to his own manner of life and service as affording an example of what Timothy's experience must necessarily be. He referred to his "teaching," his "conduct," his "purpose," and his "faith," his 'longsuffering," his 'love," and his "patience." The results of such life and service had been persecution and suffering. Out of all these things he had been delivered, for while the difficulties of the pathway had been great, the strength and faithfulness of the Lord had been greater.

Finally, in this connection the apostle turned to Timothy's responsibility concerning the truth. The first word marking that responsibility is the word, "abide." The apostolic teaching at this point reveals Paul's estimate of the qualities which constitute the values of the, Scriptures. "Teaching” refers to the authoritative quality which constitutes the foundation on which the building is to go forward. "Reproof" is testing. "Correction" refers to bringing back into the true line. "Instruction" refers to training by discipline, toward consummation. The Scriptures, therefore, provide the foundation on which to build, a method for testing the building in course of erection, a force equal to correcting mistakes, and the supply for carrying out the enterprise to perfection.

The purpose throughout is to make complete the man of God, but this perfection of the instrument is not the ultimate goal. That is reached in the work which the complete man of God is to perform. The sequence is suggestive, and if we study it from the effect to the cause we see what was evidently in the mind of the apostle. The matter of supreme importance was the work committed to Timothy. In order to do this he must himself be complete. In order to reach this completeness his character must result from the power of the Holy Scriptures. In order to obtain this he must abide therein.