Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - 2 Timothy 1:6 - 1:6
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Observe here, 1. St. Paul's care in putting Timothy in remembrance of his duty, though he very well knew it before: Wherefore, I put thee in remembrance. None are so well instructed in their duty, but they may and ought sometimes to be put in remembrance of what their duty is.
Note, 2. The duty which St. Paul puts him in remembrance of; namely, to stir up the gift of God, which was in him, by putting on of the apostle's hands.
Where observe, 1. What the gift was which he advises should be stirred up: namely, the Holy Ghost, in its ministerial gifts and sanctifying graces; particularly, a divine power, which disposed and enabled him to teach and live, to act and do, answerably to the duties incumbent upon him as a minister of Jesus Christ.
Observe, 2. What care Timothy must take of this gift; namely, to stir it up: The word is a metaphor taken from fire, which, if not stirred up, grows dead, and gives little heat. They that have received much grace, and many gifts from the Holy Spirit, may yet be wanting to themselves in stirring them up. This stirring up the gift of God in Timothy, respects either the means that are to be used in order to the duty, such are prayer, reading, meditation; or the duty itself, which consists in feeding the flock of God, in reforming abuses in the church of God, and in enduring hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Observe, 3. How this gift was bestowed upon Timothy; namely, by putting on of the apostle's hands, together with the hands of the presbytery, 1Ti_4:14. The authority and power was given by the apostle, the presbytery concurring as his assistants. St. Paul did not lay on hands without the presbytery, much less did the presbytery lay on hands without the apostle, but he and they in conjunction.
From the whole, learn, That no persons, especially ministers, ought to suffer the gifts and graces of God's Holy Spirit to remain in them unexcited and unstirred up: Stir up the gift of God that is in thee.