Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 2:7

"Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things." — 2 Timothy 2:7 (ASV)

Consider what I say; and the Lord give you understanding in all things.—The older authorities read here will give; also instead of “and the Lord,” the translation should be, for the Lord. Thus the sentence should run: for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

Some difficulty has been found in explaining exactly why, when we look at the foregoing words, Timothy should be so specially charged to consider St. Paul’s words here, and why the declaration respecting “understanding in all things” was made in this particular place.

Theophylact suggested that because the preceding exhortations were in the form of metaphors, Paul “spoke all things in an enigmatical form.” But surely these metaphors were the reverse of obscure and did not seem to need any special enlightenment for their comprehension. If, then, we refer the words of this verse exclusively to what precedes, it will be best to understand St. Paul’s charge, “Consider what I say,” etc., as directing Timothy’s attention to the personal application of each of the pictures or metaphors.

It seems, however, that the words “Consider,” etc., while referring to what he had said, also belong to the far weightier words he was about to write in the next sentence (2 Timothy 2:8).

In this chapter, he is exhorting Timothy to be strong in the faith in the face of many troubles. He has instanced for him earthly examples to show how success, even here, depends on enduring perseverance, and is now passing on to set before him other and far higher inducements for him “to be strong”; and between the first set of arguments and the second, he bids him “Consider what I say” (part has been said, but other and deeper things are yet to follow). God will give him power to grasp their meaning in all their depth.