that of the First Epistle. But it bears its own peculiar
marks of genuineness. One thoroughly Pauline feature is _thanksgiving_
at the beginning, a feature which is found in eight of his other
Epistles, but not in the two other Pastoral Epistles. A forger might
have had the critical insight which would lead him to compose this
thanksgiving. But it is highly improbable that a forger would have put
twenty-three proper names into the Epistle without tamely copying names
which occur elsewhere, or without betraying any wish to glorify some
saint who became popular after the death of the apostle. Neither of
these two suspicious tokens can be detected here. For instance, Demas,
concerning whom nothing that is discreditable is narrated elsewhere, is
here rebuked with a pathetic regret (iv. 10; cf. Col. iv. 14); while
Linus, afterwards a famous bishop and martyr of Rome, is mentioned
without any honourable distinction at all. Even if the Linus of this
Epistle is not the bishop of that name {206} the argument still holds
good. For a forger, if he inserted the name of any Linus, would have
been almost certain to mention _the_ Linus and no other.

[Sidenote: To whom written.]

"To Timothy, my beloved child" (i. 2).

[Sidenote: Where and when written.]

It was written from Rome, where St. Paul is again a prisoner, the
reason of his imprisonment being the witness that he has borne to
Christ (i. 8, 12, 17). His imprisonment had already lasted some time,
for it was known at Ephesus. The apostle had apparently requested two
of his friends, Phygellus and Hermogenes, to come to him at Rome, but
they had declined. The Ephesian Onesiphorus had acted otherwise, and
when in Rome had sought him out. St. Paul anticipates death. His case
has already had a first hearing, when no witness appeared in his
defence (iv. 16). He is now ready to be offered up. But he does not
anticipate an immediate martyrdom, as he urges Timothy to come to Rome
before winter. The date is therefore probably some weeks or months
before St. Paul's martyrdom. The year is either A.D. 64 or very soon
afterwards.

[Sidenote Character and Contents.]

This Epistle is the apostle's farewell pastoral charge. He looks
forward to his fate with courage and confidence. He has fought a good
fight, and is sure of the crown of righteousness which the Lord will
give him. But he sees that a dark future is in store for the Church.
Some professing Christians have