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16. For he himself also, with
an eye to the like necessities of saints, who, although they obey
his precepts, “that with silence they work and eat their own
bread,” may yet from many causes stand in need of somewhat by way
of supplement to the like sustenance, therefore, after he had thus
said, teaching and premonishing, “Now them which are such we
command and beseech in our Lord Jesus Christ, that with silence
they work and eat their own bread;”2521
yet, lest they which had whereof
they might supply the needs of the servants of God, should hence
take occasion to wax lazy, providing against this he hath
straightway added, “But ye, brethren, become not weak in showing
beneficence.”2522
| 2522 Infirmari
benefacientes | And when
he was writing to Titus, saying, “Zenas the lawyer and Apollos do
thou diligently send forward, that nothing may be wanting to
them;”2523
that he
might show from what quarter nothing ought to be wanting to them,
he straightway subjoined, “But let ours also learn to maintain
good works2524
| 2524 Bonis operibus
præesse, καλῶν ἔργων
προΐστασθαι. E.V. in margin,
“profess honest trades.” | for
necessary use, that they be not unfruitful.” In the case of
Timothy also,2525
whom he
calls his own most true2526
son, because he knew him weak of
body, (as he shows, in advising him not to drink water, but to use
a little wine for his stomach’s sake and his often infirmities,)
lest then haply, because in bodily work he could not labor, he
being unwilling to stand in need of daily food at their hands,
unto whom he ministered the Gospel, should seek some business
in which the stress of his mind would become entangled; (for it is
one thing to labor in body, with the mind free, as does a
handicraftsman, if he be not fraudulent and avaricious and greedy
of his own private gain; but another thing, to occupy the mind
itself with cares of collecting money without the body’s labor,
as do either dealers, or bailiffs, or undertakers, for these with
care of the mind conduct their business, not with their hands do
work, and in that regard occupy their mind itself with solicitude
of getting;) lest then Timothy should fall upon such like ways,
because from weakness of body he could not work with his hands, he
thus exhorts, admonishes, and comforts him: “Labor,” saith he,
“as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man, going a warfare for
God, entangleth himself with secular business; that he may please
Him to whom he hath proved himself.2527
For he that striveth for
masteries, is not crowned except he strive lawfully.”2528
Hereupon,
lest the other should be put to straits, saying, “Dig I cannot,
to beg I am ashamed,”2529
he adjoined, “The husbandman
that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits:” according to
that which he had said to the Corinthians, “Who goeth a warfare
any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth
not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth a flock, and partaketh not of
the milk of the flock?”2530
Thus did he make to be without
care a chaste evangelist, not to that end working as an evangelist
that he might sell the Gospel, but yet not, having strength to
supply unto himself with his own hands the necessities of this
life; for that he should understand whatever being necessary for
himself he was taking of them whom as provincials he as a soldier
was serving, and whom as a vineyard he was culturing, or as a flock
was feeding, to be not matter of mendicity, but of
power.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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