“You therefore, my son, be
strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus. The things which
you have heard from me in the
presence of many witnesses,
entrust these to faithful men
who will be able to teach oth-
ers also. Suffer hardship with
me, as a good soldier of Christ
Jesus. No soldier in active
service entangles himself in
the affairs of everyday life, so
that he may please the one
who enlisted him as a soldier.”
2 TIMOTHY 2:1–4
1 R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, 1 & 2 Timothy
and Titus: To Guard the Deposit, Preaching the
Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 195.
COMMANDS:
1. Be strong in grace.
2. Entrust the Gospel to faithful men.
3. Endure hardship as a good soldier.
4. Don’t get distracted.
5. Live to please Christ.
ENDURING HARDSHIP LIKE A
SOLDIER
These verses are about training men for spiritual leadership.
Second Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul to his personal
disciple in ministry, Timothy. Paul was in prison, his remaining
days on earth few. The Holy Spirit through Paul urged Timothy
to entrust to faithful men the Gospel he had been given, so
they could go on to teach and train others. The men who were
trained must serve with one overriding purpose—to please
the One Who enlisted them as
soldiers. Their enlistment officer
is also their Commander in Chief,
their Savior and King, Jesus Christ.
Spiritual leaders are taught here that
they can please their Lord by suffering
(enduring) hardship as a good soldier. Paul
draws our attention to the highest qualities
of good soldiers.