Commentarii in Epistolas D. Pauli ad Timoth. ad Titum, et ad Philem. facili et perspicua methodo conscripti. A D. Benedicto Aretio bernensi theologo. Cum indice rerum memorabilium quae in hisce conti

1. In the beginning, therefore, he takes his exordium from the end of his purpose, namely why he was left at Ephesus, which is to defend sound doctrine in the new Church. The first section, therefore, is about defending the sincerity of Evangelical doctrine against corruptions, and because the corrupters of sound doctrine were primarily teaching the law, the Apostle adds an appendix about the true use of the Law, chapter 1.

2. Then he instructs him on how public prayers are to be established, for whom one should pray, by whom, to what end, why, etc. To these he adds a finishing touch concerning the decorum of women in public assemblies, that the office of teaching publicly is not to be granted to them, chapter 2.

From here he passes to expressing an idea of the ministry, so that he may teach what sort of people are to be admitted to this office and what sort are to be removed. This canon served Timothy in elections and today it ought to be followed uniquely; it also served those who apply their mind to the ministry, so that they may know what gifts they ought to bring to this and from what vices it is necessary for them to be distant.

Fourth, he warns him beforehand about seducers who in the last times are going to corrupt the Church of Christ: he expresses certain marks by which they can be infallibly known in all ages: he soon returns to the Jewish corruptions, which the teachers of the Law were then mixing in with the growing Gospel everywhere; he scatters frequent exhortations here,