Fragments on 2 Timothy

1In the first epistle, intending to hand over ecclesiastical canons, he spoke by command; but in the second, by promise, he said: for the apostleship indeed ordains the things that are profitable by the command of God, but to those who hear it, it promises life, not of the present, but of the eternal, that which is in Christ Jesus. In the first epistle, by command, he says he is intending to ordain, but in the second epistle, by promise: for the apostleship indeed ordains, but on the hope of obtaining eternal life, it promises those who obey.

He does not say 'not the ceasing of life,' but 'of the faith toward God.'

Because the trial against those preaching the gospel was making a cutting off of the gospel, because of this he says: suffer hardship for the gospel. And he brought forward: according to the power of God, because the very suffering itself needs the help of God, the one having abolished death and having enlightened life and incorruption through the gospel. There was life also in Adam and among those after him, but by the death of disobedience it was darkened. It was therefore enlightened now by the resurrection of Christ; it was darkened by death, it is being enlightened through Christ. And how is it possible to test the gospel? As...

2The preachers were attempting to deceive. But because the trial against those preaching the good news was making a cut into the good news, for this reason he says these things.

—Having enlightened life. The being is being enlightened. Because indeed life was given before the hearing of Adam, but by death it was darkened, again by the resurrection of the savior the life is being enlightened. Regarding 2 Timothy 1:12, what deposit? The healthy teaching taught him.

Regarding 2 Timothy 2:4, because he said beforehand, it is not necessary for the one serving in battle to entangle himself in the affairs of life; moreover, it was being sought how, without entangling himself, one possesses the things toward the need. He showed that it is necessary to live from the good news. Regarding 2 Timothy 2:17, gangrene is a disease, spreading and easily running through the bodies.

Regarding 2 Timothy 4:1, he does not testify as one condemning a laggard, but so that in the testimony he might guard for himself through all his own purpose. I testify before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, the one about to judge the living and the dead, according to his appearance and his kingdom.

3Instead of the phrase 'that when the Son of Man comes, I may have a defense that I said these things,' he says these things to give him courage in preaching the wordis command he intends that at all times the teacher should stand near the disciples, revealing the reminder after sin at an opportune time; for then it seems how it is opportune to reprove the one who has sinned.

Since this was established as a preventive help, he says that the teacher, correcting the word, should wait for the man to sin first, and then reprove him and turn him toward repentance, not only at an opportune time but also at an inopportunous time, so that the inopportunous time might bring into action that which was before the sin. For it is considered superfluous and not in season for the many to engage in dialogue with those who do not even protest. But to distinguish this superfluous and inopportunous action is very necessary and opportune for those who know. For the one acting with prudence should discourse about sexual immorality, so that he may not be caught by the slackness of the passion.

4Let him fall into it, yet it is fitting for one who honors self-sufficiency and equality to dismiss the arguments of those concerning greed and the love of money, lest he unguardedly receive a plant from the root of evils. For the love of money is the root of all evils. Paul the apostle distinguished this.

The fullness and unceasingness of the ministry's instruction demonstrates those words which he made his own regarding the high priesthood, and that they fulfill from every place the needs of the rational flock so that all may properly possess them, both in priests and in ministers. For those who inherited the dignity of the episcopate were prepared for building up and for fleeing, even if suffering evil should happen through this. Therefore, in the things previously mentioned, the apostle set forward the suffering of the work; for he said: Suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist.

I am being poured out. Instead of being taken away, I am being sacrificed so as to pour out my blood upon the earth.