2 Timothy 2:1-7

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:5

2:5 And if anyone engages in an athletic contest, he does not win the crown unless he observes the rules of the game. Paul has just used the picture of the soldier to represent the Christian, and now he uses two other pictures--those of the athlete and of the toiling husbandman. He uses the same three pictures close together in 1 Corinthians 9:6-7 ; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 . Paul says that the athlete does not win the crown of victory unless he observes the rules of the contest. There... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:6-7

2:6-7 It is the toiling husbandman who must be first to receive his share of the fruits. Think of what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. To represent the Christian life Paul has used the picture of the soldier and of the athlete, and now he uses the picture of the farmer. It is not the lazy husbandman, but the husbandman who toils, who must be the first to receive the share of the fruits of the harvest. What then are the characteristics of the husbandman... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:4

No man that warreth ,.... Who is a soldier, and gives himself up to military service, in a literal sense: the Vulgate Latin version, without any authority, adds, "to God"; as if the apostle was speaking of a spiritual warfare; whereas he is illustrating a spiritual warfare by a corporeal one; and observes, that no one, that is in a military state, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life ; with civil affairs, in distinction from military ones. The Roman soldiers might not follow... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:5

And if a man also strive for masteries ,.... In the Olympic games, by running, wrestling, leaping, &c.; yet is he not crowned ; with a corruptible, fading crown, a crown made of herbs and leaves of trees, as parsley, laurel, &c.; except he strive lawfully ; according to the laws and rules fixed for those exercises; so no man that calls himself a Christian, minister, or any other, can expect the crown of life, the prize of the high calling of God, except he runs the race set... read more

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