As indicated in the sub -heading of this article, the reader has now

been shown something of the manner of arriving at the structure of Scripture.

This has been done in response to the request of readers who have asked `how

do you arrive at the structure of any given passage?'  In order to follow the

lead given, it is of course necessary to become well acquainted with the book

or epistle concerned, so that the memory is stored with its contents and thus

able to seize upon corresponding features.  On no account must humanly

devised headings be used to obtain the structure.  Such a course may side-

track the seeker and result merely in the production of a pretty outline, not

the ascertainment of the Truth.  We must build upon the Words of inspiration

as instanced in the foregoing structure: kerux, dokimos, kalos, kakopatheo.

Here we are on solid rock, and though he fight against our theories the most

antagonistic must acknowledge the facts we have marshalled.  In a sense, the

seeking of a structure is the practical putting into effect of the command to

`rightly divide the Word of Truth'.  In result it places Truth in

compartments and facilitates discernment of the development of the argument.

We are now ready to commence the study of details with the assurance

that such preparatory study always brings.  While no assurance can alter our

utter dependence upon the Lord, the Author of the book, we have learned that

the most complete dependence goes hand in hand with the utmost diligence, a

statement with which every reader of this study will most heartily agree.

The Historic Background. -- A short survey of the period seems called for in

order that this last of Paul's epistles may be seen in its true environment.

It is evident from the statements made at the end of the Acts that the

`two whole years' during which the apostle stayed in his own hired house

brought his imprisonment to an end.  When these two years had expired, Paul

must either have been put to death or set at liberty.  In two of the epistles

written during these two years at Rome, the apostle appears to be confident

that he will obtain his release, although quite prepared to magnify the Lord

whether `by life or by death' (Phil. 1:20,26; 2:24).  Moreover, if we compare

the record of his imprisonment during these two years with the circumstances

indicated in 2 Timothy, we shall find evidence to justify the belief that he

was eventually liberated, and then, after an interval in which he sought to

confirm the churches in the truth, was again apprehended and executed.  In

Philippians and Philemon the apostle anticipates release, but in 2 Timothy

this is by no means the case, and in chapter 4 he declares: `the time of my

departure is at hand' (4:6 -8).

In the former imprisonment Timothy was with Paul (Col. 1:1; Phil. 1:1).

In the second imprisonment, however, Timothy is obviously absent, and the

apostle writes to urge him to use all diligence to come before winter.  In

the first imprisonment Demas is with Paul (Col. 4:14; Philem. 24), but in 2

Timothy we read that `Demas hath forsaken me' (4:10).  During his first

imprisonment we find Mark in attendance upon the apostle (Col. 4:10; Philem.

24); in the second imprisonment, however, Timothy is asked to bring Mark with

him (2 Tim. 4:11).  Before Paul's apprehension Trophimus had accompanied him

to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4; 21:29); in 2 Timothy, on the other hand, the apostle

says that he has left Trophimus at Miletus sick (4:20).  During his first

imprisonment, his friends visited him, brought him gifts, and were themselves

encouraged to preach the gospel (Acts 28:30,31; Phil. 1:13 -15; 4:18), but

during the second imprisonment he was forsaken, and we read that at his