Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 4:2

"preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." — 2 Timothy 4:2 (ASV)

Preach the word.—The language of the original here is abrupt and emphatic, written evidently under strong emotion and with intense earnestness. St. Paul charged his friend and successor with profound solemnity, as we have seen, “preach,” or proclaim loudly and publicly, as a herald would announce the accession of his king. The exact opposite to what St. Paul would urge on Timothy is described by Isaiah (Isaiah 56:10), when he speaks of God’s watchmen as “dumb dogs, who cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”

Be instant in season, out of season.—Some difference exists between commentators regarding the exact meaning to be given to the Greek word translated “be instant.” Some would give it the sense of drawing near to, and as it is not specified in the text to whom Timothy should draw near, they supply from the context “the brethren,” those to whom the word is preached: “draw near to Christian assemblies.” It seems, however, best to understand this rather difficult word as an injunction to Timothy to be earnest and urgent generally in the whole work of his ministry: “Press on, in season, out of season.”

In season, out of season.—In other words, “For your work, set apart no definite and fixed hours, no appointed times. Your work must be done at all hours, at all times. Your work has to be done not only when you are in church, not merely in times of security and peace, but it must be carried on, in the midst of dangers, even if you are a prisoner and in chains, even if death threatens you.”

So Chrysostom—who also uses St. Paul’s words here as an urgent call to ministers to labor on in spite of discouragement and apparent failure—telling them in his own bright, eloquent way, how fountains still flow on, though no one goes to them to draw water, and rivers still run on, though no one drinks at them.

Augustine asks and answers the question to whom “in season” and to whom “out of season” refers: “in season” to those willing, “out of season” to the unwilling. This, however, only touches a portion of the thought of St. Paul, who urges on God’s true servants a restless, sleepless earnestness, which struggles on with the Master’s work in spite of bodily weakness and discouragement, in face of dangers and the bitterest opposition.

Reprove.—Not merely those erring in doctrine, but generally those who are blameworthy: “Was tadelnswerthist.”

Rebuke.—A sharper and more severe word than the preceding. It is used by Jude 1:9, in his report of the words addressed by St. Michael to the devil: “The Lord rebuke thee.” It frequently occurs in the Gospels. (See, for instance, Matthew 17:18, “And Jesus rebuked the devil.”)

Exhort.—Not only is he to remember ceaselessly to watch over the flock, and to reprove and rebuke the erring and sinners, but also with no less diligence to speak comfortable words of encouragement and hope to all, especially the dispirited and sad-hearted.

With all longsuffering and doctrine.—The word translated “doctrine” signifies, rather, teaching. He must reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all gentleness and patience; and in all this he must take care that “teaching”—the teaching which is right, and true, and full of hope—accompanies his rebuke and his words of comfort.