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directs the attention not merely to the "time" but the fitness of that time. It will be in
direct contrast with the present time with its persecution and rejection of the truth.
When we arrive at the eighth verse we shall take the opportunity of referring to the
special use of words that refer to the Second Coming of the Lord.
Where our version reads "Who shall judge" in II Tim. 4: 1 it is not the simple future
that is so translated; the words that stand for "shall" here is tou mellontos "the One about
to" judge. Mello primarily means "to delay" but subsequent usage led on from the idea
of delaying or loitering, to an act that was about to be done, but with no uncertainty
intended.
"To be about" to do something, is very nearly an equivalent phrase in English, and we
find this translation in Acts 3: 3, "Seeing Peter and John about to go"; Acts 18: 14
"When Paul was not about to open his mouth". The phrase "things to come" which we
meet in Rom. 8: 38, I Cor. 3: 22, Eph. 1: 21, Col. 2: 17, I Tim. 4: 8 is a translation
of mello. Timothy was exhorted to remember that the Lord was about to come as judge
of dead and living, and with this before his mind, the apostle knew that he would be the
more faithful and stedfast.
No.36. The character of the close of this dispensation,
indicated in the charge made by Paul to Timothy (4: 2 - 4).*
pp. 72 - 76
[* - See also a series entitled "Signs of the Times", in Volumes XXXV, 36:]
We have examined the solemn setting in which the apostle placed his charge to
Timothy, solemn because it was "before God", solemn because it was "before the Lord
Jesus Christ", solemn because it was in the presence of One Who was about to judge the
living and the dead, solemn because of the prospect of His appearing and his kingdom.
We now turn to the charge itself, and the charge also is invested with solemnity.
To preach the Word is no light undertaking, to be instant in season and out of season,
adds to the solemnity of the effort, to be conscious that a time will come when sound
doctrine will not be endured, increases the feeling of responsibility.
The structure of II Tim. 3: 10 - 4: 8 has been set out in some detail in
Volume XXXVI, p.169, and the exhortation to "Preach the Word" comes in
correspondence with the close of II Tim. 3:, where the inspiration and profitableness of
all Scripture is taught.
It may not be amiss if we set out the heads of this structure, in order to see where the
passage before us comes in the development of the theme.