Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." That he may not plunge Timothy into dejection by giving him orders about such matters, he says, I write thus not as though I were not coming, but I will indeed come, still in case I should be delayed, that thou mayest not be distressed. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Lest by giving him instruction concerning such matters he cast the disciple into grief, as though Paul would no longer see him, he says: I do not write this because I will no longer come; on the contrary, I will come. However, if it happens that I am delayed, you must have a model of how it is fitting for you to live. The apostle said beautifully: "hoping." Since, being led by the Spirit, he did not know where he must go, he rightly has doubts also concerning his coming to Timothy.
Oecumenius
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you soon; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. These things I write to you. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, these things I write to you, he presents the reason for all the above mentioned admonitions: first, he excludes a supposed reason; second, he states the true one, at but if I tarry; third, he assigns the reason, at which is the Church. In regard to the first it should be noted that from what Paul had written Timothy could suppose that he was never to see Paul again; otherwise, it would seem superfluous to write him letters. Hence he says, these things I write to you, hoping that I shall come to you shortly. …
Translation