Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-12-09
re sunpAY SCHOOL
international Lesson for December
II. is-;sz-i'auI's Last Words Tim
otby ILLS. I6-Is.

+ fight. I have finished my course. have
kept the faith.-2 Tim. -.
THE SECTION includes the whole Epis-
tie
DATE Of writing. The Second Epistle 10
Timothy was written about a. .. 6. not
long before the martyrdOm Of Paul at
Rome.
EXPLANATORY.
The Circumstances.-At the close Of
the Acts we left Paul in prison at Rome,
but in his own hired house. Soon after
that he was released. So far as can
be learned, he went on with his mission
AIRY work for three or four years, and
tl.en was arrested and brought again to
Rome. He was now probably in the
dark, foul, lower dungeon of the
Mamertine prison which even now it
makes one shudder to enter, even with
light and guide.
|. Motives for Faithfulness.-N. l.
Il charge thee" This is my dying re-
quest, the charge lay upon you. BE
fore God" the Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ whose servant he is,
and whom he delights TO honor and
proclaim. Who shall judge the quick,
those living at the time of the judg
ment, ''and the dead,'' those who have
fallen asleep before His appearing" to
judge the world, and to enter upon
His completed kingdom.
III. The Teachers Work.-V. 2. ~
Preach" proclaim as a herald. Make
known the good news. This is what
he charged Timothy to do by all the
motives enforced in verse l. The
word:' The truths of the Gospel of
Christ, who is the Word of God.
(2) BE instant" give attention to,
apply yourself to. be earnest, pressing
In season, out of season." at the regu
lar appointed times. and whenever an
opportunity comes in any form, or at
any time.
49, .Reprove:" Thesa word that
is used in John 1913, when Jesus says
that the spirit shall reproye, r. " con
Wet. convince, the world of sin. 1t
means the showing one his fault or
error, so that he may forsake it.
"a "Rebuke:' There are times
when only the severe, sharp rebuke
will penetrate the soul and awaken
men to duty.
% "Exhort:" Awaken courage,
Grouse, strengthen good purposes.
All this is to be done with long suf-
fering.' patience, for the process of
making men good is slow and discour-
aging, "and doctrine teaching, line
upon line, precept upon precept.
III. Opposition, and How to Meet it.
VS.. 81. There is need of the above
charge because opposition will arise.
3. viii not endure sound, healthful,
good for the soul, doctrine" teaching
The teacher of sound doctrine will be-
come unpopular. But after their own
lusts," their evil desires. They will
want to sin, and hence will reject those
who teach holiness, and will heap"
up, load themselves with, adding one
kind to another, teachers" who will
teach according TO their lusts, the things
that please, not the things that are
lealthful and true. Having" that is,
the scholars having Itching ears, itch
ing for some novelty, for some pleasing
things, as children want the medicine
that tastes good, not that which cures
4. Turn away" 1t is the eternal
punishment of him who departs from
he apostolic witnesses that he loses
himself in the whirlpool of manifold
errors. Whoever viii not listen to what
is true, but only to what is pleasant,
will at last abandon himself to silly,
fantastic chimeras.
". Paul's Good Fight of Faith-Vs
6, :. 6. For" because my work is
done, let my mantle fall on you. You
take up the work | must leave. II am
now ready to be offered as sacrifice
to the cause. He knew that at any
hour the sword of Nero might end his
life by martyrs death.
:. Il have fought good fight" The
fight against sin and wrong within and
without, the fight against error, against
all that would overthrow the Gospel.
Il have finished my course:" As a
Christian athlete in the games, he had
run the race, and reached the goal he
sought. He had not fallen or faltered
in the race, but had kept the faith" he
had received in spite of all hindrances
and enemies.
V. The Crown of Victory.-V. S.
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a
CROWN" Having compared his labors
to the exertions of the combatants at
Liz SaAhtSs AC AS PASs1AtH lis A1NaAA
under the idea of a crown, because
that was the reward bestowed on the
victors in these combats. Grown of
righteousness" The crown awarded
to righteousness.
VI. Light In Darkness.-Vs. 1918.
10. NO man stood with me-" He notes
in verses 1915 some of his experiences.
Il. The Lord stood with me-" This
special presence was at the first an
swer, verse 16, and God enabled him 10
preach the Gospel TO the court at
Rome. as he had before 10 that of Fes-
tus and Agrippa, and thus compelled
all the Gentiles to hear"
Is And the Lord shall deliver me
from every evil work." Fighting and
fears within, without. The sword Of
Nero could not prevent Paurs real de-
Il ~