2 Timothy 3:10-11 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,… God hath set them before us as our copy to write by, and our pattern to live by, and we must answer not only for sinning against the light of the word, but against the light of good example also. It will be one day said, "You had such and such to go before you in paths of piety, and yet you would not follow." The faithful are called witnesses (Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 12:1.). Now if we walk contrary to their light they will witness against us, as Noah and Lot did against the sinners of their age; but if we walk answerable to their light they will witness for us. Their practice may comfort and confirm us in God's way; they declare the possibility of obtaining such a grace, and make it thereby the more easy, when we have seen it done before us. If a man have a torch to light him in a dark and dangerous path, how glad is he: the godly shine like lights in the midst of a crooked generation (Philippians 2:15, 16), their life is a commentary on the Scripture. Now since the nature of man is apter to be guided by example then precept, therefore God hath prepared abundance of glorious examples for our imitation, and thus the saints that are now at rest and triumphant in glory, their lives are to be our looking-glasses to dress ourselves by, our compass to sail by, and our pillar of a cloud to walk by. (T. Hall, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,WEB: But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, |
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