2 Timothy 2:3 NIV

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 2:3-4

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 2:3

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 2:3

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 2:3

Verse 3 3Do thou therefore endure afflictions Not without strong necessity has he added this second exhortation; for they who offer their obedience to Christ must be prepared for “enduring afflictions;” and thus, without patient endurance of evils, there will never be perseverance. And accordingly he adds, “as becomes a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” By this term he means that all who serve Christ are warriors, and that their condition as warriors consists, not in inflicting evils, but rather... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Hardship in connection with the Christian ministry. I. PRELIMINARY EXHORTATION . 1 . As to personal strength . "Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." As the apostle's power of working was already much crippled by close imprisonment, he naturally felt anxious regarding the future of Christ's cause. In calling Timothy his son, he does not formally name him as his successor. At the same time, he may be regarded as looking to him as one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:1-14

Endurance the lot of Christ's ministers. Continual endurance of evil, whether directed specially against himself, or generally thwarting the cause which he has most at heart, is the ordinary lot of the minister of Jesus Christ exercising his ministry in an evil world. And in order to be ready to encounter this evil, actively or passively, as the case may require, a complete concentration of purpose on the fulfilment of his ministry is absolutely required. If the heart is divided between... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3

Suffer hardship with me for thou therefore endure hardness, A.V. and T.R.; Christ Jesus for Jesus Christ, A.V. and T.R. Suffer hardship with me ( συγκακοπάθησον ) , which is the reading "supported by the weightiest authorities" (Huther), as in 2 Timothy 1:8 . The simple form κακοπάθησον , which is the reading of the T.R., occurs also in 2 Timothy 1:9 of this chapter, in 2 Timothy 4:5 , and in James 5:13 , and κακοπαθεία in James 5:10 . Both these simple forms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3

Culture of strength. "Endure hardness." We are all endangered by ease and self-indulgence. The soft south wind of worldly comfort enfeebles us. Dangerous, for to the soldier nerveless strength is death; and the great campaign requires on our part energy and courage all through. I. IT IS HARD TO SUBJUGATE THE PRESENT WORLD . In the fourth verse Paul speaks of the "affairs of this life," in which Timothy, like the rest of us, was in danger of" being entangled;" and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3-7

The apostle bespeaks from Timothy a copartnership in affliction, which would have its due reward. I. THE DUTY OF SUFFERING HARDSHIP IN THE GOSPEL . "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ." 1 . The minister is a soldier of Christ, enrolled by him, trained by him, armed by him, supported by him, as the Captain of our salvation. The ministry is a warfare, involving, not only the "good fight of faith," but an increasing struggle against false teachers. 2... read more

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

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

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:3-7

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