| 2 TIMOTHY |
| Explanatory Footnotes |
| 2:4 Soldier, Athlete, Farmer Writing to a friend who knew him well, Paul saw no need to expand on the three analogies in this paragraph; he simply mentions them and tells Timothy to reflect on them. Paul was fully conscious of the threats and dangers facing his own life, and he wanted Timothy to train himself in preparation for any hardships that he might have to face. 3:8 Who Were Jannes and Jambres? These names, not mentioned in the Old Testament, were handed down in Jewish tradition as the names of the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses during the ten plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7:11; 9:11). 3:16 Scripture is God-breathed This important verse gives the origin of them term inspiration, which literally means "God-breathed." Although the Bible doesn't spell out the mechanics of how God inspired the writers, it makes clear the ultimate source was God himself. 4:17 A Second Imprisonment in Rome Acts 28 describes a period when Paul was held under house arrest in Rome, but the conditions hinted at in this letter are quite different. Paul wrote 2 Timothy much later, after the Roman Empire had turned against Christians, and the tone of this letter (4:6-9) implies that he had little hope of freedom. His request for a cloak and parchments (4:13) indicates he was arrested suddenly, without warning. |