Fragmenta in epistulam ii ad Timotheum

In the first letter, being about to deliver ecclesiastical canons, he spoke by command; in the second, he spoke by promise. For the apostolic mission, on the one hand, by command of God ordains what is beneficial; on the other hand, it offers to those who hear a promise of life, not the present life but the eternal life in Christ Jesus. In the first letter, he speaks by command, being about to ordain; in the second letter, by promise. For the apostolic mission ordains, but with the hope that those who obey will obtain eternal life. He does not speak of the unceasing nature of life, but of faith in God. Since the persecution against those who proclaim the gospel was causing an interruption to the gospel, for this reason he says: suffer together with the gospel. And he added: according to the power of God, because suffering itself requires the assistance of God, who has abolished death and illuminated life and incorruptibility through the gospel. There was life in the time of Adam and in those after him, but it was darkened by the death of disobedience. It has now been illuminated by the resurrection of Christ. It was darkened by death; it is illuminated through Christ. And how is it possible for the gospel to be tempted? As those who proclaimed it were tempted. But since the persecution against those who proclaim the gospel was causing an interruption to the gospel, for this reason he says these things. —And having illuminated life. That which exists is illuminated. Since, therefore, life was given before the disobedience of Adam, but was darkened by death, again by the resurrection of the Savior life is illuminated. What deposit? He taught him sound teaching.

Since he had said beforehand that one who serves in the army must not become entangled in the business of life, it was then asked how, without being entangled, he might have what is needed for his sustenance. He made clear that one must live from the Gospel. Gangrene is a passion, corrupting and easily spreading through bodies. He does not bear witness as one condemning a negligent person, but so that in the testimony he may preserve for him his own purpose throughout. I bear witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is to judge the living and the dead, according to his appearing and his kingdom, instead of saying, so that when the Son of Man comes, I may have a defense that I spoke. He says these things in order to give him boldness to preach the word. For through this command he wishes that at every time the teacher should be present to those being instructed, showing the reminder after sin at the opportune moment; for then it seems how opportune it is to reprove the one who has sinned. But since this falls outside preventive assistance—waiting for the man to sin first, then reproving him and turning him to repentance—he corrects the statement and says, not only at the opportune time but also at the inopportune time, so that "inopportune" means before the sin comes to pass. For it is considered superfluous and untimely by many to converse with those who have not yet sinned. But this superfluous and untimely thing is, for those who know how to discern, very necessary and opportune.

For even with the one who is temperate one must discourse concerning fornication, lest he fall into the snares of passion; and with the one who values self-sufficiency, equality, and justice, it is fitting to go through arguments concerning greed and love of money, lest he unwarily admit the shoot of the root of all evils. For the root of all evils is love of money. The apostle Paul defined it. The fullness of the ministry indicates the complete and unblemished character of the words that are proper to the high priesthood, and the filling of the needs of the rational flock from all sides, so that it is well provided in all its members, both priests and ministers; for those who have obtained the dignity of the episcopate were appointed to build up and to flee, even if it should happen that they suffer hardship on account of this. Therefore, in the things said, the apostle placed the hardship of the work first; for he said: "Endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist." I am poured out. Instead of "I am destroyed," "I am slaughtered," so that I may sprinkle my blood on the ground.