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2. καὶ ἃ ἤκουσας παρʼ ἐμοῦ. Cp. 2Ti 1:13 and the note at that place. Observe that personal strength in the grace of Christ precedes in importance as in time the transmission of the Apostolic deposit of faith.
διὰ πολλῶν μαρτύρων, through many witnesses; not only the instruction which St Paul had given orally to Timothy, but the ‘sound doctrine’ which Timothy had received from him indirectly through the report of others, is to be transmitted to succeeding generations. Many commentators, however, both ancient and modern, take διά here as equivalent to coram, ‘in presence of,’ and examples have been found to illustrate this use of διά where we should expect ἐπί. So it is understood by Chrysostom, πολλῶν παρόντων; and thus the ‘many witnesses’ are taken to be the presbyters present at Timothy’s ordination (see 1Ti 1:18; 1Ti 4:16; 1Ti 6:12). But there is no need thus to strain the meaning of διά or to limit the reference to any single moment in Timothy’s life. Through the intervention of many witnesses gives a clear and good sense.
ταῦτα παράθου. The delivery of a definite παραθήκη at Ordination is symbolised in our own Office for the Ordering of Priests by the handing a Bible to the newly ordained.
οἵτινες, quippe qui.
ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται. Yet these ‘faithful men’ who are ‘able’ to teach must needs continually remember ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ (2Co 3:5).
ἑτέρους διδάξαι, to teach others. The ἐπίσκοπος at this stage of the Church’s life needed to be διδακτικός (1Ti 3:2).