CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:5:  “unfeigned” = Meaning, “sincere; genuine; authentic; etcetera.”

 

1:6:  “the putting on of my hands” = Here is my Acts 13:2-3 Note:  This is none other than a symbol of the act of ordination, or ordaining one to the office and responsibilities of whatever.

 

“The ordination by the laying on of hands, was, at a later date, greatly abused; unwarrantable importance was attached to the act, as though a power came at once upon those who received such ordination, which immediately qualified them for any and all ministerial work, as though virtue lay in the act of laying on of hands.  We have, in the history of these two apostles, only a simple record of the laying on of hands, and its bearing upon their work.  Both Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself [verse 2];

 

“and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification.  It was merely setting the seal of the Church upon the Work of God -- an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office.  This form was a significant one to the Jews.  When a Jewish father blessed his children, he laid his hands reverently upon their heads. When and animal was devoted to sacrifice, the hand of the one invested with priestly authority was laid upon the head of the victim.  Therefore, when the ministers of Antioch laid their hands upon the apostles, they, by that action, asked God to bestow His blessing upon them, in their devotion to the specific work which God had chosen them to do.” 3SP:349 & LP:43-44; 6RH:141; AA:159-160.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

2:14:  “subverting” = The Greek word is “katastrophee,” meaning “an overturn” (rather, “catastrophe”), that is, demolition; figuratively apostasy:  overthrow, subverting.”  The word is only used here and in the LXX of 2Pe. 2:6.  What Paul is saying here is that he is charging believers not to use their words in an unprofitable manner, or in a way that would subvert (overturn what is already established) the hearers, which is the opposite of “edifying” (building up the hearers).

 

2:15:  “Study” = “We should set our minds to the task of searching for truths that do not lie directly upon the surface.”  RH, Sep. 28, 1897.  See Proverbs 15:28.

 

2:20:  “great house” = “The ‘great house’ represents the Church.  In the Church will be found the vile as well as the precious.”  RH, February 5, 1901; 7BC:918.

 

2:25:  “that oppose themselves” = Literally, “that are becoming contentiously disposed.”  They would rather argue with you and oppose the truth; but in reality, they are hurting themselves.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

3:1:  “in the last days” = “In the last days, the earth will be almost destitute of true faith.  Upon the merest pretense, the Word of God will be considered unreliable, while human reasoning will be received, though it be in opposition to plain Scripture facts.”  1SP:89.

 

3:2:  “lovers of their own selves” = The essence of Buddhism is, “No Self, No Problem.”

 

3:5:  “power” = The power to change lives.

 

3:7:  “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” = “ ‘Ever learning (ever presenting some new theory) but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.’ ”  PC:98.

 

3:16:  “inspiration” = Paul actually states that the Bible is “theopneustos,” meaning, “God-breathed.”  In the Latin translation of the Bible the text reads, “Scriptura divinitus inspirata,” from which we get the English word “inspired.”  Therefore, see Second Peter 1:21.  However, neither of these two texts teach us that the New Testament is “God-breathed.”  We must go to First Corinthians 2:13 & First Thessalonians 2:13 in order to discover that.

 

But WAIT.  Actually, the word “spiration” means, “breathed.”  Therefore, “inspiration” here means, “breathed in.”  In other words, God “breathed in[to]” His Word what He wants us to know, learn, put into practice, then teach others.

 

“reproof” = According to Hebrews 11:1, this Greek word “elegchos” should be translated as “evidence.”

 

3:17:  “throughly” = Notice, not the typical pronunciation you hear from many lips, “thoroughly,” but “thoroughly.”  The “man of God” should be “perfect”” through and through.”

 

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

4:1:  “quick” = This is an old English word that now means, “living.”  So, the verse really states that Jesus is Coming to judge “the living and the dead.”

 

4:3:  “the time will come” = Commenting upon this verse:  “That time has fully come.”  4SP:413.

 

“they will not endure sound doctrine” = “The apostle does not here refer to the openly irreligious, but to progressed Christians who have indulged inclination until they are enslaved by their own ungoverned passions,” LP:323.

 

“The apostle does not here refer to the openly irreligious, but to the professing Christians who make inclination their guide, and thus become enslaved by self.”  AA:504.

 

4:6:  “I am now ready to be offered” = “Paul was about to finish his course, and he desired Timothy to take his place,” AA:506.

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