15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17 Now, unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever & ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, aceording to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, & a good eonscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck :

20 Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan,e that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Of women's attire,

CHAP. II.

1 That it is meet to pray and give thanks for all men, and the reason why. 9 How wo men should be attired. I EXHORT, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men:

e Delivered unto Satan. What this delivering to Satan was, is not certainly known. Some have supposed it was only excommunication from the church and its privileges: others have thought it consisted in some corporal suffering or punishment, which Paul, as an inspired apostle, was authorized to inflict. See i Cor.

7.5.

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty:

3 For this is good, and ac ceptable in the sight of God *our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not,) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

8 I will, therefore, that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Qualifications of

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgres

sion.

15 Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in child-bearing,a if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety.

CHAP. III.

1 How bishops, and deacons, and their wives, should be qualified, 14 and to what end Paul wrote to Timothy of these things. THIS is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach:

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy

bishops & deacons, &c.

lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God ?)

6 Not a novice,a lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

a She shall be saved, &c. The apostle's meaning in this verse probably is, that although Eve was first in transgression, and brought death on herself, and all her posterity, yet the female sex, as well as the male, shall be saved, in consequence of childbearing, or by giving birth to the Saviour, provided however that they live in faith and love, and chastity, with sobriety.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued,b not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;c

9 Holding the mystery of the faith dina pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness :e God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

CHAP. IV. He foretelleth that in the latter times there shall be a departure from the faith. NOW, the Spirit speaketh expressly, that, in the latter times,a some shall depart from

A departing from

the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,b and doctrines of devils ;c

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3. Forbidding to marry, and

e See note d last page.

a The latter times. To understand this phrase, it may be observed, that the whole duration of Christianity previous to the Millennium or the universal prevalence of the Gospel, is considered in the predictions of the New Testament, as divided into three periods. The first is that of primitive Christianity, which commenced with our Saviour, and was continued under the apostles and

their successors during about 606 years. The second is that of the great Apostacy, probably popery, during its flourishing state, in which was to be revealed the man of sin. See 2 Thess ii. This period is denoted by the phrase, latter times, or days. It commenced A. D. 606, and will continue, though in a declining state, through the whole of the next period. Some of the prophecies relating to this becorrupt state of the church may, sides in the three first verses of this chapter, be found 2 Tim. iv. 3. Rev. ix. 20. Coloss. ii. 18, 19, 23. The third period is the reign of Antichrist or open atheism, whose distinguishing characteristic should be a denial

both of the Father and the Son. This period is denoted by the phrase, last days. It is supposed to be the present age, and to be exemplified more particularly by modern France, which for many years has been remarkable for its infidelity, atheism, and hostility to pure religion, and in 1792 the denial of a God was for the first time ever known, formally and publicly established by law. Some of the prophecies which characterize this period may be found 2 Tim. iii. 1. 2 Peter, iii. 3. 2 Peter, ii. Jude, 4— 12. 1 John, ii. 18, 22, and iv. 3.

b Seducing spirits, teachers, who falsely pretend to be inspired.

Devils here should be rendered demons, by which the ancients meant angels and saints, or the souls of departed men, a kind of beings, similar to what the Roman catholics are taught to worship,