2 Timothy 2:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Here Paul encourages Timothy to constancy and perseverance in his work: Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 2:1. Observe, Those who have work to do for God must stir up themselves to do it, and strengthen themselves for it. Being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus may be understood in opposition to the weakness of grace. Where there is the truth of grace there must be a labouring after the strength of grace. As our trials increase, we have need to grow stronger and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:1-2

2:1-2 As for you, my child, find your strength in the grace which is in Christ Jesus; and entrust the things which you have heard from me, and which are confirmed by many witnesses, to faithful men who will be competent to teach others too. Here we have in outline two things--the reception and the transmission of the Christian faith. (i) The reception of the faith is founded on two things. It is founded on hearing. It was from Paul that Timothy heard the truth of the Christian faith. But... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:3-4

2:3-4 Accept your share in suffering like a fine soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier who is on active service entangles himself in ordinary civilian business; he lays aside such things, so that by good service he may please the commander who has enrolled him in his army. The picture of man as a soldier and life as a campaign is one which the Romans and the Greeks knew well. "To live," said Seneca, "is to be a soldier" (Seneca: Epistles 96: 5). "The life of every man," said Epictetus, "is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:1

Thou therefore, my son ,.... The illative particle, "therefore", shows the connection between this and the preceding chapter; the appellation, "thou, my son", expresses the apostle's tender affection for Timothy, and is the rather used to engage his attention to the advice he was about to give him; which is, that since he had received the true grace of God, and unfeigned faith dwelt in him; and since he had such gifts, qualifying him for the work of the ministry; and since so good a thing as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:2

And the things that thou hast heard of me ,.... Meaning the doctrines of the Gospel, the form of sound words. The Arabic version renders it, "the secrets, or mysteries that thou hast heard of me"; the mysteries of the grace of God, which he had often heard him discourse of, unfold and explain: among many witnesses ; or by them; which some understand of the testimonies out of Moses, and the prophets, with which the apostle confirmed what he delivered; for the doctrines of justification,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness ,.... "Or afflictions"; as in 2 Timothy 4:5 . The same word is used there as here, and properly signifies, "suffer evil"; and means the evil of afflictions, as persecutions of every kind, loss of name and goods, scourging, imprisonment, and death itself, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel: as a good soldier of Jesus Christ . Christ is the Captain of salvation, the Leader and Commander of the people, who are made a willing people in the day of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:1

Be strong in the grace - Though the genuine import of the word grace is favor, yet it often implies an active principle communicated from God; light directing how to act, and power enabling to act according to the light. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:2

The things that thou hast heard of me - Those doctrines which I have preached the most publicly, and which many persons can attest. But he seems to refer here to the doctrines delivered to him when, in the presence of many witnesses, he laid his hands upon him; see 1 Timothy 6:12 . Then the apostle gave him the proper form of sound words which he was to teach; and now he tells him to commit those truths to faithful men in the same way that they were committed to him, that the truth might... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:3

Endure hardness - He considers a Christian minister under the notion of a soldier, not so much for his continual conflicts with the world, the devil, and the flesh, for these are in a certain sense common to all Christians, but for the hardships and difficulties to which he must be exposed who faithfully preaches the Gospel of Christ. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:1

Verse 1 1Be strong in the grace As he had formerly commanded him to keep, by the Spirit, that which was committed to him, so now he likewise enjoins him “to be strengthened in grace.” By this expression he intends to shake off sloth and indifference; for the flesh is so sluggish, that even those who are endued with eminent gifts are found to slacken in the midst of their course, if they be not frequently aroused. Some will say: “Of what use is it to exhort a man to ‘be strong in grace,’ unless... read more

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