AFTER the Epistles to the Churches, novv folovv his Epistles to particular person, as to
Timothee, to Titus, vvho vvere Bishops: and to Philémon.
Of Timothee vve reade Act. 16. hovv S. Paul in his visitation tooke him in his traine at
Lystra, circumciding him before, because of the Ievves. he vvas then a Disciple, that is
to say, a Christian man. Aftervvard the Apostle gaue him holy Orders, and consecrated him
Bishop, as he testifieth in both these Epistles vnto him. 1. Tim. 4. v. 14. and 2. Tim. 1.
v. 6.
He vvriteth therfore vnto him as to a Bishop, and him self expresseth the scope of his first
Epistle, saying: These things I vvrite to thee, that thou maiest knovv hovv thou
oughtest to conuerse in the House of God, vvhich is the Church. And so he instructeth him
(and in him, al Bishops) hovv to gouerne both himself, & others. and touching himself, to be
an example & a spectacle to al sortes, in al vertue, as touching others, to prohibit al such
as goe about to preach othervvise then the Catholike Church hath receiued, and to inculcate
to the people the Catholike faith: to preach vnto yong and old, men and vvomen: to seruants,
to the riche, to euery sort conueniently. Vvith vvhat circumspection to giue orders, & to
vvhat persons: for vvhom to pray: vvhom to admit to the vovv of vvidovvhod &c.
This Epistle vvas vvritten, as it seemeth, after his first emprisonmēt in Rome, vvhen he
vvas dismissed and set at libertie and therevpon it is, that he might say here, I hope
to come to thee quickly. to vvit vnto Ephesus, vvhere he had desired him to remaine.
although in his voiage to Hierusalem, before his being at Rome, he said at Milétum to the
Clergie of Ephesus, vpō probable feare: And now behold I knovv, that you shal no more see
my •ace.
Vvhere it vvas vvritten, it is vncertaine: though it be commonly said, at Laodicia.
Vvhich seemeth not, because it is like he vvas neuer there, as may be gathered by the Epistle
to the Colossians, vvritten at Rome in his last trouble, vvhen he vvas put to death.