“And will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom; to Whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.”
This then is salvation, when we shine forth there. But what means, “He will preserve
me unto His kingdom”? He will deliver me from all blame, and preserve me there. For this
is to be preserved unto His kingdom, to die here on account of it. For “He that hateth his
life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John xii. 25.)
“To whom be glory.” Lo, here is a doxology to the Son.
Ver. 19. “Salute Priscilla and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.”
For he was then in Rome, of whom he said “The Lord grant unto him that he may find
mercy of the Lord in that day.” (2 Tim. i. 18.) By this naming of him, he makes those of his
household also more zealous in such good actions.
“Salute Priscilla and Aquila.” These are they of whom he makes continual mention,
with whom too he had lodged, and who had taken Apollos to them. He names the woman
first, as being I suppose more zealous, and more faithful, for she had then received Apollos;
or it might be done indifferently. And it was to them no slight consolation to be thus sa-
luted.1436 It conveyed a demonstration of esteem and love, and a participation in much
grace. For the bare salutation of that holy and blessed man was sufficient to fill with grace
him who received it.
Ver. 20. “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.”
This Trophimus and Tychicus, we know from the book of the Acts, sailed away with
him from Judea, and were everywhere his companions, perhaps as being more zealous than
the rest.
“Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick.” Why then didst thou not heal him, instead of
leaving him? The Apostles could not do everything, or they did not dispense miraculous
gifts upon all occasions, lest more should be ascribed to them than was right. The same
thing is observable of those blessed and righteous men, who were before them, as in the case
of Moses, whose voice was weak. Why was not this defect removed? Nay, he was often afflic-
ted with grief and dejection, and he was not admitted into the Land of Promise.
For many things were permitted by God, that the weakness of human nature might be
manifested. And if with these defects the insensible Jews could ask, Where is Moses who
brought us out of the land of Egypt (Ex. xxxii. 1.)? how would they not have been affected
towards him if he had brought them also into the Land of Promise? If he had not been
suffered to be overpowered by the fear of Pharaoh, would they not have thought him a God?
We see that the people of Lystra were thus affected in the case of Paul and Barnabas, thinking
them to be Gods, when they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out and
saying, “Sirs, why do ye these things? we also are men of like passions with you.” (Acts xiv.
1436 B. πρόσρησις, as had been before conjectured.
892
2 Timothy 4:9-13