henfions Timothie might be under upon being left at Ephefus, where Paul had met with much oppofition, and fome very lately? " A (a) foft word, fays Beza upon the place, to be ufed by one of much fuperior authority." But if we confider the dangers of our fuppofed time, we may fee the reafon of Paul's fpeaking in that manner to Timothie.

Again. 1 Tim. iii. 14. 15. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee fhortly. But if I tarry long, that thou mayeft know, how thou oughteft to behave thy-felf in the house of God. Words, which mightily fuit the present time. St. Paul went into Macedonia, with a defign to forward the collections for the poor faints in Judea, and then to go to Jerufalem. And it may be well fuppofed, that he had then hopes of calling in at Ephefus, in his way to Judea, and there seeing Timothie, However, he could not yet fay the time. Which alfo is plainly agreeable to the Apostle's circumstances at this feafon. For we perceive from what St. Luke writes in the Acts, and from the fecond epistle to the Corinthians, writ fome while afterwards in Macedonia, that Paul was not then able long before hand to fix refolutions about the time of jour neys to be undertaken by him,

Farther, the time affigned by Pearfon, and those who agree with him, must be wrong. It appears from Acts xx. 17.... that when Paul was going to Jerufalem in the former part of the year 58. there were Elders at Ephefus, and probably, in the neighbouring cities of Afia. But when Paul wrote this epiftle, there feems to have been want of fuch officers at Ephefus, or thereabout. For a main defign of it appears to be, to inftruct Timothie in the proper qualifications of fuch men, and to admonish him to use great care and caution in the choice of them. •To riba #

Once more, I am of opinion, that the second epistle to Timothie was writ, foon after Paul had been brought to Rome a prisoner from Judea. Therefore, if this epiftle be prior to it, it must have been writ, before Paul went to Jerufalem, with the contributions of the Christians of Greece and Macedonia, and other places.

There is, however, a difficulty attending our fuppofition. For Timothie is joyned with Paul in the infcription at the begining of the fecond epistle to the Corinthians, generally allowed to have been writ in Macedonia. And in Acts xx. 4. Timothie is mentioned among thofe, who accompanied Paul into Afia, when he was going to Jeru falem with the above mentioned contributions. All which may induce fome to think, that either Timothie did not return to Paul, before he left Ephefus or that Paul took Timothie with him, when he went into Macedonia.

To which I anfwer: We have fhewed it to be very probable, that Timothie returned to Epbifus, before Paul left it. The Apostle therefore might fend Timothie this letter from Macedonia, and afterwards fend for him, to come thither to him, having fome fpecial occafion for his affifte ance. And though this was not entirely agreeable to the Apostle, he might

སྙ

(a) Пaginárioa. jum precatus, vel bortatus:] Blando vocabulo utitur, fingu Jare modeftia exemplum relinquens quibufvis, in maxima etiam auctoritate conftitutis. Bez. in. loc,

might be the rather difpofed to it, hoping, that as he went to Jerufalem, he fhould have an opportunity to leave Timothie at Ephesus. Which, as 1 apprehend, he did, when he came to Miletus,

Farther, this difficulty is very much abated by the account formerly given of this period of our Apoftle's hiftorie. For it was then fhewn, that there was a space of almost two years between St. Paul's going from Ephefus, when he went into Macedonia, and his coming to Troas, in the way to Jerufalem. Timothie therefore may have refided at Ephefur above a year, and yet be with the Apostle at the writing of the second epiftle to the Corinthians, which was not fent to them till near the end of the year 57.

Dr. Benfon (b) fuppofeth this epiftle to have been writ at Troas, foon after the Apostle was come from Ephefus. And indeed, many learned men think, that Paul now went into Macedonia by the way of Troas. This has been collected from 2 Cor. iv. 12. 13. But that appears to me a difficult text. And it may be difputed, whether Paul there refers to his journey from Ephefus. For it is difficult to conceive, how the Apostle could have reafon to expect Titus at Troas, at that feafon: confidering, that his removal from Ephefus had been fudden, or however, fomewhat fooner than he had intended. How then was it poffible for him to have made an appointment for Titus to meet him at Troas punc tually at the time of his arrival there.

...But allowing Paul to have gone from Ephefus to Macedonia by the way of Troas, it will not follow, that this epiftle was writ there. It may be concluded from 1 Tim. i. 3. that the Apoftle was now in Macedonia, or had been there, fince he left Ephefus. Accordingly, Lightfoot, Baros nius, and Eftius, before named, fuppofe this epistle to have been writ in Macedonia. Says (c) Lightfoot "It is apparent from 1 Tim. i. 3. that "this epiftle was written after Paul's fetting out from Ephejus for Mace"donia.... Now it cannot be conceived, to have been written, when "he was going toward Macedonia. For then he was but newly parted from Timothie. And it is not likely, that he would fo write to him, "when he was but newly come from him. . . . Therefore it cannot but "be concluded, that this epiftle was written, whilft he was in Macedonia, "or the parts thereabout, at this time that we are upon." To which I readily affent,

I fhall add only, what is alfo already hinted by Lightfoot, that it is very improbable, that the Apoftle fhould ufe thofe expreffions, Tim. iii, 14. hoping to come and fee thee fhortly, before he had been in Macedonia. St. Paul was much more likely to fay this, when he had been fome months abfent from Ephefus, than when he had been come away but a few days only.

fhould now fay more particularly, when this epiftle was writ, And I think, it must have been writ in the year 56. In the begining of that year, according to our account, Paul wrote the firft epiftle to the Corinthians. Before Pentecoft in that year he left Ephefus. And before the end of that year, I fuppofe, he might write this epistle to Timothie. The

(b) See his preface to the firft epifle to Timothie, Sect. iii, (c) Harmonie of N. T. Vol, i. p. 397.

place

place is not abfolutely certain. Before writing this epistle the Apostle had been in Macedonia, fince he left Ephefus. But whether he was now in that countrey, cannot, I apprehend, be fully determined by those expreffions. 1 Tim. i. 3. However, this may be reckoned very likely, that the Apostle was either in Macedonia, or near it. Lewis Cappell, as before obferved, was in doubt, which was first writ, this epiftle, or the fecond to the Corinthians. About that I have no doubt. We shall soon fee clear proof, that the fecond epiftle to the Corinthians, was writ not long before the end of the year 57. This firft epiftle to Timothie was writ in the year 56. and probably, fome good while before the end

of it.

SE C T.

VI. 9

The Epifile to Titus.

AYS Theodoret immediately after what was tranA. D. 56. From him above concerning the first epiftle to Timothie:" After that, (d) as I think, was "writ the epiftle to Titus. For being ftill in thofe parts, he' dèfred Titus to "come to him, faying: When I fhall fend unto thee Artemas, or Ty "chicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis. For I have determined "to winter there. Tit. iii. 12. They fay, that Nicopolis is a city of "Thrace, nigh unto Macedonia." So writes Theodoret in his general preface to St. Paul's Epiftles. And in his rote upón Tit. iii. 12. he fays. "" Nicopolis (e) is a city of Thrace, nigh unto Macedonia. It is "manifeft therefore, that he wrote this epiftle, when he was in Macedonia, and Achaia."

Following the opinion of this learned ancient, which I think to be very right, the epiftle to Titus was writ in the year 56. and Paul spent the winter of that year at Nicopolis.

If it be afked, when was Paul in Crete?' I anfwer, in general: a fhort time before he wrote this epiftle, as may appear from those words: Fer this caufe left I thee in Crete, that thou fhouldeft fet in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I appointed thee. ch. i. 51 More particularly, I fuppofe, that Paul had been in Crete in this year 56. fince he came from Ephefus, to go into Macedonia. About this time, I think, he was in Crete, and Illyricum, as well as in Macedonia. But as I do not indulge myfelf in making conjectures, I do not attempt to defcribe the order of the Apoftle's voyages. It was before fhewn to be probable, that (ƒ) between Paul's leaving Ephefus in the fpring of the year 56. and his coming to Treas, after the Paflover, in the year 58. in

his

(δ) Μετὰ ταύτην υπολαμβάνω τὴν πρὸς τίτον γεγράφθαι ἐν ἐκείνοις γὰρ ἔτι διάγων τοῖς μέρεσι, καταλαβεῖν αὐτὸν παρηγγύησε. Λέγει δὲ ἔτως· ὅταν πέμψω ἀρτιμᾶν. Τὴν δὲ νικόπολιν θρακικὴν μὲν πόλιν είναι φασὶ, τῇ δὲ μακεδονία waw. Theod. T. 3. p. 4. C.

(ε) τῆς Θράκης ἐςὶν ἡ νικόπολις, τῇ δὲ μακεδονίᾳ πελάζει. Δῆλον τόινυν ὡς κατ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν, καθ ̓ ὃν ἐν τῇ μακεδονίᾳ καὶ αχαίᾳ διέτριβεν, ἔγραψε τὴν ἐπιτολήν, Ibid. p. 515. A.

A See before p. 219.

... 221.

his way to Jerufalem, there was the fpace of about two years. In that time Paul might do, and probably did more than is particularly related by St. Luke. Few learned men, confidering the concifenefs of St. Luke's manner of writing, can make any difficulty to allow, that (g) he has not related all the Apostle's journeys. It is obfervable, that Titus was the perfon, who was fent by Paul into Dalmatia, when he was come to Rome. As appears from 2 Tim, iv. 10. Which may be reckoned an argument, that he had been there before.

About this time the epiftle to Titus was writ, according to the opinion of divers learned men, to whom I refer: as (h) Baronius, (i) Cappell, (k) Hammond, and (1) Lightfoot. Eftius (m) could not determine the time of this epiftle exactly: but he thought, it was writ before the Apoftle's imprisonment at Jerufalem, and Rome.

Cave in his (2) Hiftoria Literaria placeth this epiftle in the year 63. But, when he wrote the Lives of the Apostles, he (0) supposed it to have been writ foon after the first epistle to the Corinthians.

Mill (p) placeth this epiftle in the year 64. Pearfon (q) in 65. Paul having, as he fuppofes, been in Crete, and left Titus there the year before, that is, in 64. And many others may be of the fame opinion.

But this appears to me too late a date.". All that is faid of Paul's going into Spain, and Crete, and fome other places, after being released from his imprisonment at Rome, is mere conjecture, without any good authority, either from the books of the New Teftament, or very early antiquity. It is not likely, that Paul, who in his epiftle to Philemon calls himself aged, thould after that undertake new work. It is more probable, that he went to fuch places, where he had been before, and where he had difciples already: as he intimates in his epiftles to the Philippians, the Coloffiáns, Philemon, the Hebrews. Nor is it at all likely, that (r) the Cretans fhould have been fo long without being inftructed in the doctrine of the gofpel, as Pearfon fuppofeth.

I have

(g) Neque enim omnia Pauli itinera defcripfit Lucas, fed notabiliora quædam. Witf. de Vita Pauli. Sect. 9. num. v.

(b) Baron. Ann. 57. num. ccix.

(i) Lud. Cappell. Hift. Ap. p. 16. er 66. Vid. et Jacob. Cappa Compend. in apoft. bift. Chronol. Tab.

(k) Praf. in ep. ad. Tit.

(1) Lightfoot's Works, Vol. i. p. 309. 310.

(m) Quando fcripta fit hac epiftola, non liquet, nec facile ex Actis Apoft., colligi poteft, quod in iis non legatur Paulus Cretam ingreffus fuiffe. Verifimile eft, ante captivitatem Apoftoli, quia vinculorum hic nulla mentio. Imo, cum dicit cap. iii, ibi enim ftatui hyemare, plane fignificat, non effe vinctum. Eft. Argum. ep. ad Tit.

(n) Epiftola ad Titum... data anno 63. e medio aliquo loco inter Macedoniam et Nicopolim. Illic enim hyemare decreverat. H. L. in Paulo. (o) See there the Life of St. Paul. Sect. iv. num. ix.

(p) Proleg. num. 122.

(2) Ann. Paulin. p. 20..... 22. (r) Non verifimile eft, ad illud ufque tempus ignoratum fuiffe Chriftum in Creta: quum tota Achaia, Macedonia, Afia, Cyprus, Syria, perfonarent evangelii præconio. Witf, de Vita Pauli. Sed.. num. i.

I have already fhewn the most probable date of the first epiftle to Ti. mothie. It is likely, that the epiftle to Titus was writ about the fame time. For the ftate of things in both appears to be very fimilar. In. both are instructions concerning the qualifications of Elders, or Bifhops, and Deacons. So 1 Tim. iii. and Tit. i. Nor is it reafonable to think, that Paul fhould have occafion, fo late as the year 64. or 65. to fend to his affiftants and fellow-labourers fuch particular directions concerning that matter, as are in these two epiftles. It is probable, that inftructions of that kind had been given fooner. Moreover, the like errours are guarded against in both thefe epiftles. 1 Tim. i. 4. Neither give heed to fables, and endless genealogies.... ch. iv. 7. But refufe profane and old wives fables. ..vi. 10. avoiding profane and vain bablings, ... Tit. 3. 9. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and frivings about the law. For they are unprofitable, and vain. See alfo ch. i, 10.... 14. In both are like directions for paying a proper regard to civil magiftrates. 1 Tim. ii. 1.... 6. and Tit. iii. 1.... 3. There are alfo like directions concerning relative duties, particularly thofe of mafters and fervants. 1 Tim. vi. 1. 2. Tit. ii. 9. 10. Timothie and Titus are in a like manner exhorted, to take heed to themselves, and their doctrine, and to be examples of virtue. 1 Tim. i. 18. 19. iv, 6. 16. Tit. ii. 1.... 8. I might add, that near the conclufion of each epistle the practice of good works is in a very fimilar manner enjoyned upon the converts to chriftianity.

It appears from many texts of the fecond epiftle to the Corinthians, writ in Macedonia, that about this time Paul had the affiftance of Titus in thofe parts. And Tychicus, mentioned Tit. iii. 12. was likewife with Paul at this time. For he was one of the companie, that went with him into Afia. Acts xx. 4. And therefore, probably, not he, but Artemas, had been fent into Crete, to relieve Titus, Moreover, Apollos was at Ephefus, a little before Paul left that city, to go into Macedonia. That is manifeft from 1 Cor. xvi. 12. And it may be reckoned very probable, that he did not ftay long at Ephefus, after Paul: but either went with him into Macedonia, or came into those parts foon afterwards. So that Paul might now have occafion to recommend him to Titus, in Crete, together with Zenas. Tit. iii. 13.

There are not in this epiftle any tokens of Paul's great age, or of his being near the period of his miniftrie. He is plainly at liberty at the time of writing this epiftie. Nor are there any intimations of his hav ing as yet endured any long imprisonment.

This letter may be the fhorter, because, probably, Paul had lately writ at length upon the fame fubject to Timothie. Moreover, Titus was older, and might have more experience. Chryfoftom judged (s) the bre vity of this epiftle to be an argument of the ability of Titus, "He did not need a long exhortation. A few hints were fufficient." St. Paul fays, Tit. iii. 12. When I fball fend Artemas unto thee, or Ty

chicus,

(ε) . . . βραχεῖαν δὲ ποιεῖ τὴν ἐπιτολήν, εἰκότως. Καὶ τότο δὲ τῆς ἀρετῆς τῶ τίτα τεκμήριον ἦν, τὸ μὴ δεῖσθαι λόγων πολλῶν, ἀλλ' ώσπες τινὸς ὑπομνήσεως επ Tit, bem, i. Tom. xi. p. 730. P.