154763050 ii-timothy-2-commentary

II TIMOTHY 2 COMME TARY
Edited by Glenn Pease
PREFACE
I quote many old and new authors, and one of my primary resources is Preceptaustin. I quote
this resource a great deal, but there is far more on this site that you can get by just typing that
name into Google. There are literally hundreds of sermons there on this text. I just include a few
of their summary comments in the first four verses. If you want the vast information available
on the rest of the verses go to http://preceptaustin.org/2_timothy_commentaries.htm If any author
does not wish their wisdom to be shared in this way, they can let me know and I will remove it.
My e-mail is gdpease1@gmail.com
OUTLI E BY MCGEE
A. A Son, 2Tim. 2:1-2
B. A Good Soldier, 2Tim. 2:3-4
C. An Athlete, 2Tim. 2:5
D. A Farmer, 2Tim. 2:6-14
E. A Workman, 2Tim. 2:15-19
F. A Vessel, 2Tim. 2:20-23
G. A Servant, 2Tim. 2:24-25
The Appeal Renewed
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ

Jesus.
1. Barnes, “Thou therefore - In view of the fact stated in the previous chapter, that many had
turned away from the apostle, and had forsaken the paths of truth.
Be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus; - compare the notes at Eph_6:10. The
meaning is, Be strong, relying on the grace which the Lord Jesus only can impart.
2. Clarke, “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.
3. Gill, “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 the
glorious Gospel of the blessed God was committed to his trust; and since there were so many who had
departed from it, and so few that abode by it, he would have him
be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; by which may be meant either the free favour and
love of God in Christ, Rom_8:39 which is in itself always strong, immovable, and unalterable; and is
the strength and security of the saints, though they have not always the same strong believing views of
it; and to be strong in it, is to be rooted and grounded in it, and to have a strong sense and firm
persuasion of interest in it, and that nothing can separate from it: or else the Gospel, which is a
declaration of grace, and is in Christ, and comes by him; and to be strong in it, is to preach it boldly, to
defend it bravely, and courageously oppose every error and heresy, and every abettor thereof; and it
also becomes every private believer to hold it fast, stand fast in it, abide by it, and earnestly contend for
it; and so the phrase may stand opposed to ‫באוריתא‬ ‫,תקיף‬ or ‫,גבר‬ "one strong in the law", which is so often
used by the Jews (d): or rather by grace is meant the fulness of grace which is in Christ, for the supply of his
people; for in that grace which is in him, and not in that which is in themselves, should their dependence be. It is
very agreeable to be strong in grace received, in point of exercise, but not in point of contentment; so as to rest
satisfied with the present measure of it, without growing in it, and going on to perfection; and much less in point
of consolation, so as to derive peace and comfort from it; and still less in point of trust and confidence in it; for it
is but a creature, though a very glorious one, being the workmanship of God, and very variable as to its exercise,
and as yet imperfect; and not that, but the object of it, is to be trusted in: though indeed a person's enjoyment of
everlasting glory and happiness may be strongly concluded from the work of grace which is begun in him; that
being an immortal seed, and a well of living water springing up into eternal life; and with which glory is
inseparably connected. But grace in Christ is what believers should always have recourse unto, and exercise faith
on; and not only believe that there is such a fulness of grace in Christ, which they have both heard of and seen,
and which they know is laid up for them, and given to them, and is sufficient for them; but they should go forth
out of themselves unto it, and draw water with joy out of the full wells of salvation in Christ: and this grace is of a

strengthening nature, both to ministers of the word, to enable them to fulfil their ministry, to bear reproaches,
afflictions, and persecution for the Gospel, and the infirmities of weak brethren; and to private believers, to
strengthen them against every corruption, temptation, and snare, to exercise every grace, and discharge every
branch of duty.
4. Henry, “Here Paul encourages Timothy to constancy and perseverance in his work: Be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus, 2Ti_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 stronger in that which is good; our faith
stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Christ stronger. Or it may be understood in opposition to
our being strong in our own strength: “Be strong, not confiding in thy own sufficiency, but in the grace that is in
Jesus Christ.” Compare Eph_6:10, Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. When Peter promised
rather to die for Christ than to deny him he was strong in his own strength; had he been strong in the grace that is
in Christ Jesus, he would have kept his standing better. Observe, 1. There is grace in Christ Jesus; for the law
was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, Joh_1:17. There is grace enough in him for all of
us. 2. We must be strong in this grace; not in ourselves, in our own strength, or in the grace we have already
received, but in the grace that is in him, and that is the way to be strong in grace. 3. As a father exhorts his son,
so does Paul exhort Timothy, with great tenderness and affection: Thou, therefore, my son, be strong, etc.
Observe,
5. Jamison, “2Ti_2:1-26. Exhortations; To faithfulness as a good soldier of Christ; Errors to be shunned; The
Lord’s sure foundation; The right Spirit for a servant of Christ.
Thou therefore — following my example (2Ti_1:8, 2Ti_1:12), and that of ONESIPHORUS (2Ti_1:16-18),
and shunning that of those who forsook me (2Ti_1:15).
my son — Children ought to imitate their father.
be strong — literally, “be invested with power.” Have power, and show thyself to have it; implying an abiding
state of power.
in the grace — the element IN which the believer’s strength has place. Compare 2Ti_1:7, “God hath given us
the spirit of power.”
6. MOODY BIBLE I STITUTE, “2 Timothy 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Got milk? About 95 percent of Americans recognize this marketing slogan from the ad campaign
touting milk's health benefits. Over 200 celebrities, including many sports heroes, have been featured in
ads sporting a milk mustache. Dairy farmers want adults and kids to know that milk makes you strong!
Got grace? That's the secret of spiritual strength found in today's key verse: “Be strong in grace.” Such
instruction sounds simple, but these words convey the paradoxical nature of the Christian life—it
requires God's grace and human effort. Without question, God's grace is preeminent. We are saved and
called by His grace (1:9). If God hadn't first reached out to us, we never would have been able to reach
back. But God's work doesn't erase our responsibility to live in Christ. That's the “be strong” part of
verse one. Life in grace is both a gift to receive and a command to follow.
Paul explains to Timothy how to be strong in grace by using three different metaphors. First, he tells

Timothy to be a strong soldier for Christ (v. 3). Soldiers expect bad food, bad weather, and danger
itself. They are ready to suffer, and they expect to sacrifice. We, too, should expect that the Christian
life requires sacrifice because we're living not to please ourselves but our commanding officer, Jesus
Christ (v. 4).
We must also be strong like the Greek Olympian who “competes according to the rules” (v. 5).
Historically, in the ancient Greek Olympic games, in order to participate in the games, these athletes
had to complete a ten-month training period and sign an oath that they had done so. We need an
athlete's endurance and stamina for the race set before us (cf. Heb. 12:1). When we feel like quitting,
we can remember our eternal rewards and continue to the finish.
Finally, pastors specifically should be like the hardworking farmer (v. 6). The farmer is able to enjoy
produce from his fields. As pastors work hard, they deserve a share of their labors.
APPLY THE WORD
Have you been surprised by hardship and suffering in your life? Have you often been angry at God for
allowing it? Ask God for the strength of the soldier. Do you feel exhausted by the race you're running
in the Christian life? Do you feel like slowing down or quitting? Ask God for the stamina of the athlete.
Are you serving Christ faithfully and wondering when you'll see the harvest? Ask God for the
faithfulness of the farmer.
7. Calvin, “1 Be 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 free-will have something to
do in cooperation?” I reply, what God demands from us by his word he likewise bestows by his Spirit, so
that we are strengthened in the grace which he has given to us. And yet the exhortations are not
superfluous, because the Spirit of God, teaching us inwardly, causes that they shall not sound in our ears
fruitlessly and to no purpose. Whoever, therefore, shall acknowledge that the present exhortation could not
have been fruitful without the secret power of the Spirit, will never support free-will by means of it.
Which is in Christ Jesus. This is added for two reasons; to shew that the grace comes from Christ alone,
and from no other, and that no Christian will be destitute of it; for, since there is one Christ common to all, it
follows that all are partakers of his grace, which is said to be in Christ, because all who belong to Christ
must have it.
My son. This kind appellation, which he employs, tends much to gain the affections, that the doctrine may
more effectually obtain admission into the heart.
8. Jerry Bridges explains be strengthened this way...
Grammatically, Paul’s words be strengthened (be strong in) are in the form of what we may call
“a passive imperative.” The passive voiceindicates something done to us, not by us, while
the imperative mood is used to command someone to do something. When we want someone to
do something, we ordinarily use the active voice, not the passive. For example, when Paul urged
Timothy to “preach (present imperative) the word” (2Ti 4:2-note), he used the active imperative.

But Paul’s words be strengthened indicate that something is to be done to Timothy. He’s to be
strengthened by something outside himself. That something is “the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
(Ed: How is this grace "distributed" to believers today? Through the effective working of the
indwelling Spirit of Christ, the "Spirit of Grace" [Heb 10:29b])
9. Spurgeon comments on "grace...in Christ" --
Christ has grace without measure in Himself, but He hath not retained it for Himself. As the
reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so hath Christ emptied out His grace for His people. "Of
His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." (Jn 1:16) He seems only to have in order to
dispense to us. He stands like the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order to supply
the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like a tree, He bears sweet fruit,
not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by those who need. Grace, whether its work be to
pardon, to cleanse, to preserve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore, is ever to be
had from Him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which He has
not bestowed upon His people. As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs
equally to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of every saint united to
the Lamb; and herein there is a sweet communion between Christ and his Church, inasmuch as
they both receive the same grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but the
same oil runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the meanest saint has an unction of the
same costly moisture as that which fell upon the head. This is true communion when the sap of
grace flows from the stem to the branch, and when it is perceived that the stem itself is sustained
by the very nourishment which feeds the branch. As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and
more constantly recognize it as coming from Him, we shall behold Him in communion with us,
and enjoy the felicity of communion with Him. Let us make daily use of our riches, and ever
repair to Him as to our own Lord in covenant, taking from him the supply of all we need with as
much boldness as men take money from their own purse. (Spurgeon, C H: Morning and Evening)
(Bolding added)
10. In Faith's Checkbook Spurgeon comments on the truth that
"The LORD gives grace and glory" (Ps 84:11): "Grace is what we need just now, and it is to be
had freely. What can be freer than a gift? Today we shall receive sustaining, strengthening,
sanctifying, satisfying grace. He has given daily grace until now, and as for the future,
that grace is still sufficient. If we have but little grace the fault most lie in ourselves; for the
LORD is not straitened, neither is He slow to bestow it in abundance. We may ask for as much as
we will and never fear a refusal. He giveth liberally and upbraideth not. The LORD may not give
gold, but He will give grace: He may not give gain, but He will give grace. He will certainly send
us trial, but He will give grace in proportion thereto. We may be called to labor and to suffer, but
with the call there will come all the grace required; What an "end" is that in the text -- "and
glory!" We do not need glory yet, and we are not yet fit for it; but we shall have it in due order.
After we have eaten the bread of grace, we shall drink the wine of glory. We must go through the
holy, which is grace, to the holiest of all, which is glory. These words and glory are enough to
make a man dance for joy. A little while -- a little while, and then glory forever!" (Bolding added)
The way upward to the throne of grace to receive grace in the nick of time is downward in our
estimation of our abilities and our strength. Spurgeon(Faith's Checkbook) commenting on the
fact that "God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6, 1Pe 5:5-
note, Pr 3:34) that

Humble hearts seek grace, and therefore they get it. Humble hearts yield to the sweet influences
of grace, and so it is bestowed on them more and more largely. Humble hearts lie in the valleys
where streams of grace are flowing, and hence they drink of them, Humble hearts are grateful
forgrace and give the LORD the glory of it, and hence it is consistent with His honor to give it to
them. Come, dear reader, take a lowly place. Be little in thine own esteem, that the LORD may
make much of thee. Perhaps the sigh breaks out, "I fear I am not humble." It may be that this is
the language of true humility. Some are proud of being humble, and this is one of the very worst
sorts of pride. We are needy, helpless, undeserving, hell-deserving creatures, and if we are
not humble we ought to be. Let us humble ourselves because of our sins against humility, and
then the LORD will give us to taste of His favor.
It is grace which makes us humble,
and grace which finds in this humility
an opportunity for pouring in more grace.
Let us go down that we may rise. Let us be poor in spirit that God may make us rich. Let us
be humble that we may not need to be humbled but may be exalted by the grace of God."
Spurgeon adds that "Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They
are the black chariots of bright grace." "Our LORD will give us grace to follow the most difficult
paths of duty without a stumble. He can fit our foot for the crags so that we shall be at home
where apart from God we should perish." "It seems that Jehovah's way is to lower those whom
He means to raise and to strip those whom He intends to clothe. If it is His way, it is the wisest
and best way. If I am now enduring the bringing low, I may well rejoice, because I see in it the
preface to the lifting up. The more we are humbled by grace, the more we shall be exalted in
glory. That impoverishment which will be overruled for our enrichment is to be
welcomed. (Bolding added)
Commenting on "My grace is sufficient" (2Cor 12:9,10) Spurgeon writes
Our weakness should be prized as making room for divine strength. We might never have known
the power of grace if we had not felt the weakness of nature. Blessed be the LORD for the thorn
in the flesh, and the messenger of Satan, when they drive us to the strength of God. This is a
precious word from our LORD's own lip. It has made the writer laugh for joy.
God's grace enough for me! I should think it is. Is not the sky enough for the bird and the ocean
enough for the fish? The All-Sufficient is sufficient for my largest want. He who is sufficient for
earth and heaven is certainly able to meet the case of one poor worm like me. Let us, then, fall
back upon our God and His grace. If He does not remove our grief, He will enable us to bear it.
His strength shall be poured into us till the worm shall thresh the mountains, and a nothing shall
be victor over all the high and mighty ones. It is better for us to have God's strength than our
own; for if we were a thousand times as strong as we are, it would amount to nothing in the face
of the enemy; and if we could be weaker than we are, which is scarcely possible, yet we could do
all things through Christ.
11. J Vernon McGee adds this pithy comment
I love this—be strong in grace. My friend, if you think that you can grit your teeth and go out
and live the Christian life on your own, you’re in for a great disappointment. If you feel that you
can follow a few little rules or some clever gimmicks to make you a mature Christian, then you
have fallen into a subtle trap of legalism. Paul gives no rules, and the Word of God has no rules to
tell the child of God how to live the Christian life. We are saved by grace, and now we are to live
by the grace of God and be strong in that grace....When I hear Christians say, “I don’t do this,

and I don’t do that, and I am following a set of rules,” I immediately recognize that they know
very little about the grace of God. They are trying to live the Christian life in their own strength.
Paul says, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible
Commentary: ashville: Thomas elson)
12. McGee from another source wrote, “Paul begins with the first figure of speech, "Thou
therefore, my son." Timothy was not
the son of Paul in a physical way. He was his spiritual son in the sense that it was under
Paul's ministry that this young man had turned to Christ. A child of God is born into
God's family by means of his faith in Christ. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" ( IPet. 1:23) .
Timothy is in the family of God, and he is a child of God. Because of this very reason,
Paul says these words to Timothy:
"Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." I love this — "be strong in grace." My
friend, if you think that you can grit your teeth and go out and live the Christian life on
your own, you're in for a great disappointment. If you feel that you can follow a few little
rules or some clever gimmicks to make you a mature Christian, then you have fallen into
a subtle trap of legalism. Paul gives no rules, and the Word of God has no rules to tell the
child of God how to live the Christian life. We are saved by grace, and now we are to live
by the grace of God and be strong in that grace.
Let me give you an example from my boyhood. My dad traveled a great deal in his work,
and he always put down a few rules for me to follow while he was away. Some of them I
obeyed. I had to cut the wood, and I didn't mind that. One time we had a place with a lot
of trees on it, and I really enjoyed the exercise of cutting the trees into firewood. But my
father had some other rules that I frankly didn't go for. I hate to admit this, but one of
those rules was that I should attend Sunday school. The interesting thing is that he never
went himself, but he always made me go. Anyway, when he was away from home, I
didn't go. One time I was fishing, and he came home suddenly and found me. I had just
pulled out a fish, turned around, and there stood my dad. He said, "Son, are you having
any luck?" Well, my luck ran out right at that moment! I appealed to him and admitted
that I had done wrong, and by grace he was good to me. He said, "I brought home a sack
of candy for you and your sister to divide. I wasn't going to let you have it, but I think I
will now." I really took advantage of his good nature and the fact that I was his son.
My father died when I was fourteen, but now I have a heavenly Father, and I sure do
appeal to His grace. When things go wrong down here, I go to Him and appeal to Him.
When I fail, I don't run from Him like I used to. I have found that when I am away from
Him, the whipping He gives me hurts lots worse. I don't want to get out at the end of that
switch where it really stings. I come in close to Him, and the closer I am the less it hurts.
I am a son of my heavenly Father. What a marvelous figure of speech!
When I hear Christians say, "I don't do this, and I don't do that, and I am following a set
of rules," I immediately recognize that they know very little about the grace of God. They
are trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. Paul says, "Be strong in the
grace that is in Christ Jesus."

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach
others also f 2Tim. 2:2 1.
Paul was greatly concerned about the future. He wondered, just as we do when we
approach the end of our ministry, if other men will come along who will preach and teach
the Word of God. Sometimes we develop an Elijah complex. At times when I was a
pastor in Los Angeles, I cried like Elijah, "Oh, Lord, I'm the only one left!" But I found
out that was not true. All over the country I've seen the Lord raise up fine young
preachers who are standing for the things of God. It is a real concern to us older men that
there be young men who will be faithful in teaching God's Word. So Paul was
admonishing Timothy to pass along the things he had been teaching him to "faithful men,
who shall be able to teach others also." And God will raise up men with gifts of teaching
— this is the way He moves even today.
As sons of God we ought to be concerned about our Father's business. The Lord Jesus in
His humanity as a boy said, "I must be about my Father's business." Well, I have become
a son of God — not like the Lord Jesus, but I've become a son of God through faith in
Christ. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power [the authority] to become
the sons of God, even to them that [do no more nor less than] believe on his name" ( John
1:12 ). ow that I am a son of God I am interested in my Father's business. By the way,
are you interested in your Father's business? And the main business is getting out the
Word of God. But we need to recognize that we need the grace of God to do the business
of God — as well as in every facet of our lives as His children.
Perhaps you are thinking that you are disappointed with yourself. If you are, that means
you must have believed in yourself. You should not have. You are to walk by the grace of
God — "We walk by faith and not by sight." Or perhaps you are discouraged. If you are,
that means you do not believe God's Word and way of blessing. You really thought you
could do it your way, and now you are discouraged. Or you may be saying, "I hope I can
do better in the future." Then you do expect to get some good out of the old nature! Oh,
my friend, be strong in the grace of God.
13. College Press: the Bible Study Textbook Series, “Lenski cannot see a connecting thought in
chapter one,
Perhaps this is true, and we should eliminate the word, "there-
fore." But others feel that the defection of those in Asia could be
the connection for the exhortation here, If Phygelus and Her-
mogenes had been strong in the grace of Christ Jesus, they would
not have turned aside. Paul could be saying to Timothy, "Be not

like them, but be strengthened by the grace that is . in Christ
Jesus."
The term of endearment, "child," comes from the heart of one
about to lay down his life for the gospel. Timothy would not
only heed the word of Paul, but would be touched by the love and
concern Paul had for him,
Just how did Paul imagine the grace that is in Christ Jesus
would be a source of strength for Timothy?
In Christ Jesus is the favor and approval of God, An aware-
ness that we are "in Christ Jesus," and thus in the favor of God,
would be a great source of strength to our sometimes fainting
heart,
Timothy is to receive strength from his keen consciousness of
being "in Christ Jesus."
14. HE GIVETH MORE GRACE
By Annie Johnson Flint
He gives more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sends more strength when the labors increase,
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed 'ere the day is half done
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of
many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be
qualified to teach others.
1. Barnes, “And the things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses - Margin, “by.”
Before, or in the presence of, many witnesses. Perhaps he refers to a solemn charge which he gave
him, in the presence of the church, when he was ordained. It is by no means improbable that such
a charge was given then to a newly ordained minister, as it is now. On such an occasion, the
apostle would be likely to state a summary of Christian doctrine, - (compare the notes at
2Ti_1:13), - and to exhort Timothy to a faithful adherence to it.
The same commit thou to faithful men - In the same way as those things have been committed
to you. The reference is undoubtedly to ordination to the ministerial office. Timothy was to see
that those only were admitted to the ministry who were qualified to understand the truths of
religion, and to communicate them to others. This is a clear warrant for ministers to set apart
others to the same sacred office. It does not prove that the people are not at liberty to choose their
own pastor, but only that those in the ministry are to set apart others to the same office with
themselves. There is, doubtless, to be a “succession” of ministers in the church; but the true line
of the “succession” is to be found in good men who are qualified to teach, and who have the spirit
of Christ, and not merely in those who have been ordained.
Who shall be able to teach others also - On the qualifications of ministers, see the notes at
1Ti_3:2-7.
2. Clarke, “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
1Ti_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 be preserved in the Church, and holy men appointed
successively to preach it. These truths are still continued in the Church, and still there are faithful
men who proclaim them. But where is the uninterrupted apostolical succession! Who can tell?
Probably it does not exist on the face of the world. All the pretensions to it by certain Churches
are as stupid as they are idle and futile. He who appeals to this for his authority as a Christian
minister, had best sit down till he has made it out; and this will be by the next Greek kalends.
3. Gill, “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, pardon of sin, &c. by Christ, were bore witness to by the prophets; though rather
the many persons, who, with Timothy, heard the apostle preach, and were and would be
sufficient witnesses for Timothy, on occasion, that what he preached and committed to others
were the same he had heard and received from the Apostle Paul; unless reference should be had
here to the time of imposition of hands upon him, when he received some ministerial gifts, or an
increase of them; at which time the apostle might deliver to him the form of doctrine he was to
preach, and that in the presence of the presbytery, who joined in the action, and so were witnesses
of what was said to him:
the same commit thou to faithful men; who not only have received the grace of God, and are true
believers in Christ, but are men of great uprightness and integrity; who having the word of God,
will speak it out boldly, and faithfully, and keep back nothing that is profitable, but declare the
whole counsel of God, without any mixture or adulteration; for the Gospel being committed to
their trust, they would become stewards, and of such it is required that they be faithful; and
therefore this is mentioned as a necessary and requisite qualification in them; and not only so,
but they must be such
who shall be able or sufficient
to teach others also. o man is sufficient for these things, of himself, but his sufficiency is of God;
it is he who makes men able ministers of the word, by giving them gifts suitable for such work; so
that they have a furniture in them, a treasure in their earthen vessels, an understanding of the
sacred Scriptures, a gift of explaining them, and a faculty of speaking to edification; and so are
apt to teach men, to their profit and advantage, The Ethiopic version renders it, "who are fit to
teach the foolish".
4. Henry, “Timothy must count upon sufferings, even unto blood, and therefore he must train up
others to succeed him in the ministry of the gospel, 2Ti_2:2. He must instruct others, and train
them up for the ministry, and so commit to them the things which he had heard; and he must also
ordain them to the ministry, lodge the gospel as a trust in their hands, and so commit to them the
things which he had heard. Two things he must have an eye to in ordaining ministers: - Their
fidelity or integrity (“Commit them to faithful men, who will sincerely aim at the glory of God,
the honour of Christ, the welfare of souls, and the advancement of the kingdom of the Redeemer
among men”), and also their ministerial ability. They must not only be knowing themselves, but
be able to teach others also, and be apt to teach. Here we have, 1. The things Timothy was to
commit to others - what he had heard of the apostle among many witnesses; he must not deliver
any thing besides, and what Paul delivered to him and others he had received of the Lord Jesus
Christ. 2. He was to commit them as a trust, as a sacred deposit, which they were to keep, and to
transmit pure and uncorrupt unto others. 3. Those to whom he was to commit these things must
be faithful, that is, trusty men, and who were skilful to teach others. 4. Though men were both
faithful and able to teach others, yet these things must be committed to them by Timothy, a
minister, a man in office; for none must intrude themselves into the ministry, but must have these
things committed to them by those already in that office.

5. Jamison, “among — Greek, “through,” that is, with the attestation (literally, “intervention”) of
many witnesses, namely, the presbyters and others present at his ordination or consecration
(1Ti_4:14; 1Ti_6:12).
commit — in trust, as a deposit (2Ti_1:14).
faithful — the quality most needed by those having a trust committed to them.
who — Greek, “(persons) such as shall be competent to teach (them to) others also.” Thus the
way is prepared for inculcating the duty of faithful endurance (2Ti_2:3-13). Thou shouldest
consider as a motive to endurance, that thou hast not only to keep the deposit for thyself, but to
transmit it unimpaired to others, who in their turn shall fulfil the same office. This is so far from
supporting oral tradition now that it rather teaches how precarious a mode of preserving
revealed truth it was, depending, as it did, on the trustworthiness of each individual in the chain
of succession; and how thankful we ought to be that God Himself has given the written Word,
which is exempt from such risk.
6. MOODY BIBLE I STITUTE, “TODAY I THE WORD
In his book Leadership Is an Art, Max DePree characterizes leadership as a stewardship.
“Leadership is a concept of owing certain things to the institution,” he explains. “It is a way of
thinking about institutional heirs, a way of thinking about stewardship as contrasted with
ownership.” Moses understood this principle. It was a measure of Moses’ humility that he could
“walk away” from leadership at the end of his ministry. He knew that God’s blessing would not
end with the completion of his ministry and that God’s people were not dependent upon any
single leader, no matter how great that leader might be.
This doesn’t mean that every leader is the same. Deuteronomy 34:10 says that Moses was
unparalleled as a leader. Imagine how intimidated Joshua must have felt following in his
footsteps! While it was true that Joshua was no Moses, it was equally true that he had one great
advantage. Joshua was empowered by the same Spirit that had enabled Moses to be effective. He
did not need to be Moses. Indeed, it is likely that at this stage in Israel’s development as a nation
they needed a very different kind of leader. Moses had brought God’s people to the threshold of
the land of promise; Joshua would bring them into the land and help them settle it. Moses had
been an instrument of divine revelation; Joshua would ensure that Israel remembered all that
had been revealed.
The stewardship of leadership also means that leaders are responsible for developing other
leaders. Moses understood this and trained Joshua to succeed him. If Moses’ graceful handling of
leadership succession speaks of his humility, the fact that he did not try to turn Joshua into a
carbon copy of himself speaks of it even more.
APPLY THE WORD
You may not be the leader of an organization or hold a position in the church. Yet it is likely that
you have been called to exercise leadership in some area of your life. It may be as a parent, as a
committee member for your church, or in your workplace.
7. Calvin, “And which thou hast heard from me. He again shews how earnestly desirous he is to
transmit sound doctrine to posterity; and he exhorts Timothy, not only to preserve its shape and
features, (as he formerly did,) but likewise to hand it down to godly teachers, that, being widely
spread, it may take root in the hearts of many; for he saw that it would quickly perish if it were
not soon scattered by the ministry of many persons. And, indeed, we see what Satan did, not long

after the death of the Apostles; for, just as if preaching had been buried for some centuries, he
brought in innumerable reveries, which, by their monstrous absurdity, surpassed the
superstitions of all the heathens. We need not wonder, therefore, if Paul, in order to guard against
an evil of such a nature and of such magnitude, earnestly desires that his doctrines shall be
committed to all godly ministers, who shall be qualified to teach it. As if he had said, — “See that
after my death there may remain a sure attestation of my doctrine; and this will be, if thou not
only teach faithfully what thou hast learned from me, but take care that it be more widely
published by others; therefore, whomsoever thou shalt see fitted for that work, commit to their
trust this treasure.”
Commit to believing men He calls them believing men, not on account of their faith, which is
common to all Christians, but on account of their pre-eminence, as possessing a large measure of
faith. We might even translate it “faithful men;” 156 for there are few who sincerely labor to
preserve and perpetuate the remembrance of the doctrine intrusted to them. Some are impelled
by ambition, and that of various kinds, some by covetousness, some by malice, and others are
kept back by the fear of dangers; and therefore extraordinary faithfulness is here demanded.
By many witnesses 157 He does not mean that he produced witnesses in a formal and direct
manner 158 in the case of Timothy; but, because some might raise a controversy whether that
which Timothy taught had proceeded from Paul, or had been forged by himself, he removes all
doubt by this argument, that he did not speak secretly in a corner, but that there were many alive
who could testify that Timothy spoke nothing which they had not formerly heard from the mouth
of Paul. The doctrine of Timothy would therefore be beyond suspicion, seeing that they had many
fellow-disciples, who could bear testimony to it. Hence we learn how greatly a servant of Christ
should labor to maintain and defend the purity of doctrine, and not only while he lives, but as
long as his care and labor can extend it.
8. PRECEPTAUSTI , “And links naturally with Timothy's being empowered in grace, enabling
him to transmit the precious deposit of the things...heard which in context refers to the Gospel.
We cannot pass on something which we don't possess. Timothy was to pass on the things which
Paul had poured into him.
The fact that these things were heard in the presence of many witnesses indicates that there were
others who could testify to the truth, trustworthiness and validity of the things Paul taught. They
were not private communications, restricted to an inner group. There is herein a noteworthy
principle: One of the tests of trustworthy doctrine is that the teacher is willing to expound it
publicly as well as privately. ote for example how most of the cults refuse to do this but rather
seek their converts through secret initiations.
Witnesses (3144) (martus) describes those who have heard Paul's words and are competent and
willing to confirm his statements.
The point Paul is making is his teaching was not a matter of private discourse, restricted to some
select inner group, but heard by many (polus = much in number or quantity) who could testify to
the "soundness" of the doctrines he taught. The apostles had no private esoteric doctrines
privately communicated to their successors as was true in many of the "secret cults" of that day
and is a characteristic of many of the cults today.
Presence of many witnesses - Discipleship may occur in large groups, small groups, or one-on-one
encounters and in the use of this passage Paul emphasizes a group setting. The question we must
ask ourselves constantly is "Am I being obedient to the Lord's command to make disciples?" (Mt
28:18 19 20). In that famous passage often referred to as the "Great Commission" note the
"steps" - (1) Go (2) Make disciples (the only "step" which is an actual command) - learners (3)

Baptize - speaks of true believers where water baptism reflects spiritual baptism (Ro 6:3) (4)
Teach - ot to be hearers but doers. How is this possible? He is with us, enabling us by the
indwelling Spirit of Christ (cp Acts 1:8, Ro 8:9), until the end of this present age. The implication
is that that first 4 steps are taken with a continual, conscious awareness that we are not able to
complete the good works created for us to walk in unless we depend on, lean on, abide in, yield to,
surrender to, rely upon...Christ Jesus Who promises to be with us to the end! (cp 2Co 3:5, 6).
The things...heard refers back to "the good thing committed (entrusted)" (2 Ti 1:14, Young's
Literal), specifically the Gospel. Lenski aptly remarks, “The apostle evidently did not expect the
future teachers of the Church to produce new or different teaching. The Gospel is changeless in
all ages."
Have heard (akouo) which means to hear with attention and to hear effectually as to perform or
grant what is spoken. In short, this is not a description of "in one ear and out the other!"
The aorist tense speaks of a past completed (effective) action and in context sums up as a historic
fact the many occasions when Timothy had heard Paul present the standard of sound words in
the Gospel (2Ti 1:13- note, e.g. see Acts 20:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) in the presence of other witnesses.
9. Dwight Edwards writes that
This great verse contains three major sections, each dealing with a different time period. We see
the prerequisite for discipleship, the process of discipleship, and the product of discipleship.
The prerequisite (past event). "And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses..." We cannot pass on something which we don't possess. Timothy was to pass on the
things which Paul had poured into him. These "things" are the approximate equivalent to "the
standard of sound words" of 2 Ti1:13 and "the good deposit" of 2 Ti1:14....The significant point
is that preparationalways precedes presentation. Every man or woman God has used
significantly has undergone a period of intense spiritual preparation. Moses, Elijah, John the
Baptist, and Paul among many others spent a significant amount of time being prepared by God
before He sent them forth into divine service. Thus we also must not neglect the time of our
spiritual training and preparation. It is only by allowing the spirit of God to hone and sharpen us
that our lives will have the keen cutting edge which God can use in His skillful hand. Timothy is
to take what Paul has poured into his life and let it overflow into the lives of others.
The Process (Present Event): "commit these to faithful men..." Timothy is to take what Paul has
poured into his life and let it overflow into the lives of others...
The Product (future event) " who will be able to teach others also." Here is the end product of the
process of discipleship. If done properly, it will breed warriors for the faith who will go forth to
the battle for men's souls. They themselves will be involved in equipping still other faithful
warriors for the conflict. And thus the process of spiritual reproduction and multiplication is set
in motion; a process which has the potential to fulfill the first command ever given to man. ""Be
fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it" (Ge 1:28)." This process also is the key to
fulfilling the last command given to man before Christ's ascension, "Go, therefore, and make
disciples of all the nations" (Mt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)" (Bolding and color added)
10. PRECEPTAUSTI , “To faithful men - What is their chief characteristic? They can be trusted
to retain the standard of sound words (2Ti 1:13-note) and guard through the Holy Spirit Who
indwells them the treasure that has been entrusted to them (2Ti 1:14-note) and secondly they are
adequate, qualified and competent to teach ("pass the baton" to) other trustworthy men (in
essence this is the fulfillment of Jesus' great charge to go and make disciples or learners - not just

"smarter sinners" but "learners who obey" [see esp v20 that follows] - Mt 28:18, 19, 20, cp Paul's
example in 2Ti 3:10, 11-note, 2Ti 3:12-note).
E. K. Simpson writes that...
The torch of heavenly light must be transmitted unquenched from one generation to another, and
Timothy must count himself an intermediary between apostolic and later ages.
Faithful (4103) (pistos [word study] from peitho [word study] = to persuade - induce one by
words to believe, have confidence) is something or someone who is worthy of faith or keeps
promises and is applied to God, humans, His Word, etc. As used by Paul, pistos is speaking of
men who will prove themselves reliable, worthy of trust and dependable in fulfilling the ministry
that has been entrusted to them (see Col 4:17-note). As explained below these are men who live
up to the acronym F.A.T., Faithful, Available and Teachable.
11. William Barclay observes that
The teacher is a link in the living chain which stretches unbroken from this present moment back
to Jesus Christ. The glory of teaching is that it links the present with the earthly life of Jesus
Christ
This is the way to pass on the torch of the light of the knowledge of God in Christ. Paul taught
Timothy who will teach others who will teach still others, an endless chain.
A dramatic example of the power of the principle of multiplication of faithful men began (as far
as we have record) with a Sunday School teacher named Mr. Kimball, who in 1858 was
burdened to lead a Boston shoe clerk named D. L. Moody to new life in Christ.
Dwight L. Moody became a faithful evangelist and while in England in 1879 God used his
message of sound doctrine to awaken an evangelistic zeal in the heart of F. B. Meyer, pastor of a
small church, who later visited American and while preaching on a college campus was used by
the Spirit to bring a student named J. Wilbur Chapman to saving knowledge of Christ.
Chapman, engaged in YMCA work employed a former baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do
evangelistic work and while leading a revival in Charlotte, . C. so stirred the hearts of a group
of local (faithful) men that they prayed and planned another evangelistic campaign which came
to fruition when God brought Mordecai Hamm to preach. During this revival, a young man
named Billy Graham heard the Gospel and yielded his life to Christ. It may be that you dear
reader are one of the tens of thousands who has been led to Christ through the ministry of Billy
Graham. Only eternity will reveal the tremendous impact of that one trustworthy Sunday School
Teacher who invested his life in the lives of others. O, that God might grant America more "Mr.
Kimball's", "faithful men who will be able to teach others also"!
Like seed, God's Word must be continually planted in the hearts of faithful followers of Christ,
who in turn will pass it on to others. As they do, the process of sowing and reaping will continue
until the Lord of the harvest returns. Someone has taught you the truths of the gospel and helped
you to understand the teachings of the Bible. Are you planting seeds for the next harvest? We are
to be channels of God's truth, not reservoirs.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
--Havergal

3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ
Jesus.
1. Barnes, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ - Such
hardships as a soldier is called to endure. The apostle supposes that a minister of the gospel might be
called to endure hardships, and that it is reasonable that he should be as ready to do it as a soldier is.
On the hardships which he endured himself, see the notes at 2Co_11:23-29. Soldiers often endure
great privations. Taken from their homes and friends; exposed to cold, or heat, or storms, or fatiguing
marches; sustained on coarse fare, or almost destitute of food, they are often compelled to endure as
much as the human frame can bear, and often indeed, sink under their burdens, and die. If, for reward
or their country’s sake, they are willing to do this, the soldier of the cross should be willing to do it for
his Saviour’s sake, and for the good of the human race. Hence, let no man seek the office of the
ministry as a place of ease. Let no one come into it merely to enjoy himself. Let no one enter it who is
not prepared to lead a soldier’s life and to welcome hardship and trial as his portion. He would make a
bad soldier, who, at his enlistment, should make it a condition that he should be permitted to sleep on
a bed of down, and always be well clothed and fed, and never exposed to peril, or compelled to pursue
a wearisome march. Yet do not some men enter the ministry, making these the conditions? And would
they enter the ministry on any other terms?
2. Clarke, “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.
3. Gill, “Thou therefore endure hardness,.... "Or afflictions"; as in 2Ti_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 power; or when he raises his forces, and
musters his armies, these are volunteers, who willingly enlist themselves into his service, and under
his banners fight his battles; and such who manfully behave against sin, Satan, and the world, are his
good soldiers; such are all true believers in Christ, and particularly the ministers of the word, whose
ministry is a warfare, and who fight the good fight of faith; and besides the above enemies, which they
have in common with other saints, have to do with teachers, who are wolves in sheep's clothing.
4. Henry, “He must endure hardness (2Ti_2:3): Thou therefore, etc. 1. All Christians, but especially
ministers, are soldiers of Jesus Christ; they fight under his banner, in his cause, and against his
enemies, for he is the captain of our salvation, Heb_2:10. 2. The soldiers of Jesus Christ must approve

themselves good soldiers, faithful to their captain, resolute in his cause, and must not give over
fighting till they are made more than conquerors, through him that loved them, Rom_8:37. 3. Those
who would approve themselves good soldiers of Jesus Christ must endure hardness; that is, we must
expect it and count upon it in this world, must endure and accustom ourselves to it, and bear it
patiently when it comes, and not be moved by it from our integrity.
5. Jamison, “hou therefore endure hardness — The oldest manuscripts have no “Thou
therefore,” and read, “Endure hardship with (me).” “Take thy share in suffering” [Conybeare and
Howson].
6. John MacArthur adds that
It is difficult for Christians in most of the Western world to understand what serious spiritual
warfare and suffering for Christ mean. The secular environment in our society is becoming more
and more hostile to Christianity and to religion in general. But we are not faced with loss of job,
imprisonment, and execution because of our faith. With few exceptions, being a Christian will not
keep a student out of college or a worker from getting a good job. But the more faithful a
Christian becomes and the more the Lord blesses his work, the more Satan will put roadblocks,
hardships, and rejection in the way, the more evident the spiritual warfare will become, and the
more frequent and obvious the hardship will become." Chrysostom wrote that "It behooves thee
not to complain if thou endure hardness; but to complain if thou dost not endure hardness.
(MacArthur, J. 2 Timothy. Chicago: Moody Press or Logos)
7. Calvin, “Do 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 in patience.
These are matters on which it is highly necessary for us to meditate. We see how many there are every
day, that throw away their spears, who formerly made a great show of valor. Whence does this arise?
Because they cannot become inured to the cross. First, they are so effeminate that they shrink from
warfare. Next, they do not know any other way of fighting than to contend haughtily and fiercely with their
adversaries; and they cannot bear to learn what it is to
“possess their souls in patience.” (Luke 21:19)
8. Felix eff adds that a
A Christian without affliction is only like a soldier on parade.
Too often Christianity is presented to non-believers as the cure to all anxieties, difficulties, and
trials and this so-called "gospel" can result in false disciples and/or false expectations. The
essence of Paul's invitation still rings true...
Take up your armor and join me in a lifelong struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

A fruitful Christian life, inevitably, is accompanied by intense spiritual warfare and opposition.
Paul wanted to encourage young Timothy to stand strong, as he himself had done for so long. Did
Timothy obey? Paul answers this himself writing later that
you followed (closely, side by side) my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love,
perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings... (2Ti 3:10,11-note)
9. PRECEPTAUSTI , “Paul is urging Timothy to be a fit, useful soldier (4757) "of Christ
Jesus", this latter phrase indicating that Timothy was not his own but belonged to Christ Jesus
and was His to engage in spiritual warfare for Him. Roman troops were a model of discipline,
and because of that discipline, they were unbeatable. In a greater, grander degree we as Christian
soldiers who are obedient to our Commander and empowered by His grace are even more than
conquerors through Christ.
As a good soldier named Joshua learned, Christ (Messiah) Jesus is the Commander of the army
of the LORD (Josh 5:14 KJV) and in recognition of His Commander's authority,
Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to Him "What does my Lord say to
His servant?
Joshua's response should be the attitude of all who would be known by the glorious title "good
soldier" --
What do You command Your servant, my Lord? ( RSV)
Christ Jesus is our Commanding Officer, and we owe total obedience to Him!
Paul knew the characteristics of good Roman soldiers. When Claudius Lysias (see Acts 23:1-35)
ordered Paul to go to Caesarea for a government trial, two hundred soldiers, two hundred
spearmen, and seventy horsemen from the Roman army formed his personal escort! He was also
chained to a Roman soldier night and day for two whole years. Paul was also chained to a soldier
even as he wrote these words and so he understood how goodsoldiers behaved, and how they
obeyed the commanding officer. And thus Paul calls on Timothy and all "recruits" of Christ to
endeavor to be good soldiers.
10. PRECEPTAUSTI OTES, “G Campbell Morgan has an interesting note for those of us
who have never suffered through a global war:
"This word of Paul took on new meaning for many of us during the years of the Great War
(WWI). Indeed, today it seems to some of us as though we had never seen it at all before. Of
course, we had seen it, and we had given it a certain conventional interpretation. Our thinking,
however, of what was included in the phrase "the affairs of this life," was very superficial in
many cases. We thought of certain liberties and comforts, which the soldier is denied; and, of
course, that thinking was correct so far as it went. We needed the stern and awe-inspiring
experiences of those dread years to enable us to apprehend the full content of the phrase. ow we
know that nothing is left out. The soldier on active service breaks with everything except the
War. We saw them go in millions, leaving father, mother, brother, sister, wife, and lover; we saw
them march away from promising careers, loved occupations, high ambitions, and the finest
things of responsibility. othing was permitted to entangle them, to hinder them, or in any way to
interfere with the one thing. This new understanding has brought a new revelation of the claims
which our Lord's campaign makes upon us. He only asks His people to do what the sons of the

commonwealth did, grudgingly. Does not the consideration bring a sense of shame with it? How
often those who should constitute the sacramental host of God have played at war! May God
forgive us, and give us another chance! And if in His grace He will, may we be worthy of it!"
(Morgan, G C: Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible. Page 326, 1926)
William Barclay commenting on why Paul may have used the metaphor of a soldier writes...
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 kind of campaign, and a campaign which is long and varied”
(Epictetus: Discourses, 3, 24, 34). (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster
Press or Logos)
Rienecker adds
"the Roman soldier -- always ready to faithfully obey his commander without grumbling or
complaining; constantly in training whatever hardships must be endured; never leaving his post
even if it meant death; working with his company as a unit, carrying out his specific
task...received praise from his commander and was rewarded for his service. (Rogers, C L -
originally by Fritz Rienecker: ew Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek ew Testament.
Zondervan. 1998)
The respected Jewish historian Josephus noted that
each soldier every day throws all his energy into his drill, as though he were in action. Hence that
perfect ease with which they sustain the shock of battle: no confusion breaks their customary
formation, no panic paralyzes, no fatigue exhausts them. All their camp duties are performed
with the same discipline, the same regard for security: the procuring of wood, food-supplies, and
water, as required—each party has its allotted task; nothing is done without a word of command.
The same precision is maintained on the battlefield; nothing is done unadvisedly or left to chance.
This perfect discipline makes the army an ornament of peace-time and in war welds the whole
into a single body; so compact are their ranks, so alert their movements, so quick their ears for
orders, their eyes for signals, their hands to act upon them. one are slower than they in
succumbing to suffering. (Josephus: Wars of the Jews: 3. 72-107 )
A good measure of all worldly activities is...
Does it (whatever "it" represents) entangle me?
Have you become entangled in "Civilian" Affairs?

Guy King writes that the good soldier...
must not allow himself to get entangled with civilian interests, when all his energies are
supposed to be devoted to the war. He must, for the time, forswear anything, and
everything, that would prejudice his soldiering.
A like sacrifice must be seen in the soldier of the Cross. He may find that he will have to
give up certain things, certain interests, certain habits, certain amusements, even certain
friends - not because any of these are wrong in themselves, but because they are a snare,
an entanglement, to him; they get in the way of his success as a soldier.
He will not criticise his fellow Christians if they find no harm in such matters - it is not
his business to criticize; though, when asked, he is free to give his opinion, and to
explain the reason for his own avoidance.
Anything that interferes with our being the best that we can be for Him is to be
sacrificed - however harmless it may be to others, and however attractive it may be to
ourselves; even though it be so darling a possession as a hand, or a foot, or an
eye, Matthew 18:8-9. Let it be made clear that there are many things in "this life" that,
for the Christian soldier, are plain duty, family things, social affairs, business matters,
that must be attended to - and done all the better for the very reason that he is a
Christian - but the point lies in that word "entangleth": that is where the emphasis
rests. When anything, however otherwise legitimate, becomes an entanglement, it must
be severely, and sacrificially, dealt with. (2 Timothy 2:1-7 Some Things Every Christian)
A. A. Harmer tells the story...
During the Crimean War a young chaplain, newly arrived in camp, inquired of a
Christian sergeant the best method for carrying on his work, among the men. The
sergeant led him to the top of a hill and pointed out the field of action. " ow, sir," said
he, "look around you. See those batteries on the right, and the men at their guns. Hear
the roar of the cannon. Look where you will, all are in earnest here. Every man feels
that this is a life and death struggle. If we do not conquer the Russians the Russians will
conquer us. We are all in earnest here, sir; we are not playing at soldiers. If you would
do good, you must be in earnest; an earnest man always wins his way." Such was the
advice of Queen Victoria’s servant to the servant of King Jesus." (A. A. Harmer. Biblical
Illustrator)
Ramsey has the following notation on soldiers writing that...
The Roman soldier, marching under the colors of his regiment, was marching under the
standard of idolatry, for the standards (signa) were all divine, and worship was paid to
them by the soldiers as a duty of the service, and all contained one or more idolatrous
symbols or representations; moreover he was frequently required, standing in his place
in the ranks, to take part in idolatrous acts of worship. The soldier could not retire and
take to some other way of life, for he was bound to the service through a long term of
years. Here, again, the rule and practice of the Church seems to have been that in

ordinary circumstances the converted soldier should remain passive, and as far as
possible silent, during the ceremony at which he was compulsorily present, but should
not actively protest.
An Example of a Good Soldier - William Wilberforce's Source of Strength - When wanting
to faint after years of fighting against slave trade William Wilberforce leaned upon the Lord
for his strength. On his forty-first birthday, as rededicated himself to his calling, he prayed,
“Oh Lord, purify my soul from all its stains. Warm my heart with the love of thee, animate
my sluggish nature and fix my inconstancy, and volatility, that I may not be weary in well
doing.” ( eh 8:10, Isa 40:31, Gal 6:9, Eph 3:16, Col 1:11, 2 Tim 2:1 ) (John Piper, Amazing
Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce, pg 48)
A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST
C H SPURGEO
"Paul does not exhort Timothy to be a common, or ordinary soldier, but to be a "good
soldier of Jesus Christ"; for all soldiers, and all true soldiers, may not be good soldiers..."
(1) "Must be loyal to his King..."
A soldier of Jesus Christ owns the divine Redeemer as his King, and confesses his sole
and undivided sovereignty in the spiritual kingdom.
(2) "Obedient to his captain’s commands...."
Are we doing all the Master’s will?...The soldier who did not take the trouble to read the
orders of his superior, might justly be suspected of mutinous intentions. Disobedience
rankles in any heart where there is carelessness about knowing the Lord’s will. Be
courageous enough always to look Scripture in the face. It is after all nothing more than
your bare duty.
(3) "To conquer will be his ruling passion..."
The passion for victory with the soldier often makes him forget everything else. Before
the battle of Waterloo, Picton had had two of his ribs smashed in at Quatre Bras, but he
concealed this serious injury, and, though suffering intensest agony, he rode at the head
of his troop, and led one of the greatest charges which decided the fortunes of the day.
He never left his post, but rode on till a ball crushed in his skull and penetrated to the
brains. Then in the hot fight the hero fell." ...To be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, there
must be a passion for victory, an insatiable greed for setting up the throne of Jesus in the
souls of men.
(4) "A good soldier is very brave at a charge."

When the time comes and the orders are given for the good soldier to advance to the
attack, he does not wish himself away; though a perfect hail of hurtling shot whistles all
around, and the ranks of the army are thinned, he is glad to be there, for he feels the
stern joy that flushes the face in the light of battle, and he only wants to be within arm’s
length of the foe and to come to close quarters with him. So is it with the genuine
Christian when his heart is right with God. If he be bidden to advance, let the danger be
what it may, he feels he is honored by having such a service allotted to him. But are we
all such? I fear not. How many of us are silent about Jesus Christ in private
conversation, how little do we show forth our light before men. If we were good soldiers,
such as we ought to be, we should select every favorable opportunity in private as well
as in public intercourse with our fellow men, and prudently but yet zealously press the
claims of Jesus Christ and his gospel upon them. Oh, do you this, beloved, and good will
come of it....My beloved, may you and I be ready for anything, and bold to bear witness
for Christ before a scoffing world. In the pulpits where we preach, in the workshops
where we labor, in the markets where we trade, in every company amidst which we are
called to move; wherever we may be, may we be brave enough to own our Lord and to
uphold his cause.
(5) "A good soldier is like a rock under attack."
So British soldiers have been; they have stood in solid squares against the enemies’
cavalry until their foes have dashed upon them madly, gnashed their teeth, fired in their
faces, thrown their guns at them, and yet might just as well have ridden against granite
rocks; for our soldiers did not know how to yield, and would not retreat; as fast as one
fell another filled up the gap, and there stood the square of iron defying the rush of the
foe. We want this kind of fixed, resolved, persevering Godliness in our churches, and we
shall have it if we are good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Alas! too many are exhausted by the
zeal at first exhibited; for a time they can reach the highest point, but to continue on,
and on, and on, this is too difficult a task for them. How many young people will join the
church, and for awhile seem very zealous and then grow cold! Alas! it is not always the
young, there be some among yourselves who were once most diligent in your various
forms of service; what doth hinder you that you are not diligent in your Master’s
business now? Has Christ given you leave to retire into inglorious ease? Does he exempt
you from service? Take heed lest you are also exempt from reward. o, we must through
life still maintain our integrity, still resist temptation, still tread the separated path, and,
withal, still seek the souls of men with undying ardor, with indefatigable earnestness,
still wrestling with God for men and with men for God. Oh, for more of this stern
determination to stand, and having done all to stand!
(6) "He derives his strength from on high."
This has been true even of some common soldiers, for religious men when they have
sought strength from God have been all the braver in the day of conflict....Often has my
soul said to her Captain, “My Lord, I will do that work if thou wilt give me a grip of thy
conquering right hand.” Oh, what power it puts into a man when he gets a grip of
Christ, and Christ gets a grip of him! Fellowship with Christ is the fountain of the
church’s strength. Her power did never lie in her wealth, nor in the eloquence of her

preachers, nor in aught that comes of man; the strength of the church is divine, and if
she fails to draw strength from the everlasting hills, she becomes weak as water. Good
soldiers of Jesus Christ, watch unto prayer, “praying in the Holy Ghost,” for so shall
you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might
Plummer observes that
Military service implies vigilant, unwearying and organized opposition to a vigilant,
unwearying, and organized foe.... Military service iseither perpetual
warfare or perpetual preparation for it. And just such is the Christian life: it is either a
conflict, or a preparation for one. The soldier, so long as he remains in the service, can never
say, “I may lay aside my arms and my drill: all enemies are conquered; there will never be
another war.” And the Christian, so long as he remains in this world, can never think that he
may cease to watch and to pray, because the victory is won, and he will never be tempted any
more. It is for this reason that he cannot allow himself to be “entangled in the affairs of this
life." (Plummer, Alfred: 2 Timothy) (Bolding added)
C. Garret says
"You cannot be a saint on Sundays and a sinner in the week; you cannot be a saint at church
and a sinner in the shop; you can not be a saint in Liverpool and a sinner in London. You
cannot serve God and Mammon. You are a soldier everywhere or nowhere, and woe to you if
you dishonour your King."
4 o one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian
affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
1. Barnes, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life - Having
alluded to the soldier, and stated one thing in which the Christian minister is to resemble him, another
point of resemblance is suggested to the mind of the apostle. Neither the minister nor the soldier is to
be encumbered with the affairs of this life, and the one should not be more than the other. This is
always a condition in becoming a soldier. He gives up his own business during the time for which he is
enlisted, and devotes himself to the service of his country. The farmer leaves his plow, and the

mechanic his shop, and the merchant his store, and the student his books, and the lawyer his brief;
and neither of them expect to pursue these things while engaged in the service of their country. It
would be wholly impracticable to carry on the plans of a campaign, if each one of these classes should
undertake to prosecute his private business. See this fully illustrated from the Rules of War among the
Romans, by Grotius, “in loc.” Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry, or to engage in any
husbandry or trade; and they were forbidden to act as tutors to any person, or curators to any man’s
estate, or proctors in the cause of other men. The general principle was, that they were excluded from
those relations, agencies, and engagements, which it was thought would divert their minds from that
which was to be the sole object of pursuit. So with the ministers of the gospel. It is equally improper for
them to “entangle” themselves with the business of a farm or plantation; with plans of speculation and
gain, and with any purpose of worldly aggrandizement. The minister of the gospel accomplishes the
design of his appointment only when he can say in sincerity, that he “is not entangled with the affairs
of this life;” compare the notes at 1Co_9:25-27.
That he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier - That is, him who has
enlisted him, or in whose employ he is. His great object is to approve himself to him. It is not to pursue
his own plans, or to have his own will, or to accumulate property or fame for himself. His will is
absorbed in the will of his commander, and his purpose is accomplished if he meet with his
approbation. Nowhere else is it so true that the will of one becomes lost in that of another, as in the
case of the soldier. In an army it is contemplated that there shall be but one mind, one heart, one
purpose - that of the commander; and that the whole army shall be as obedient to that as the members
of the human body are to the one will that controls all. The application of this is obvious. The grand
purpose of the minister of the gospel is to please Christ. He is to pursue no separate plans, and to have
no separate will, of his own; and it is contemplated that the whole “Corps” of Christian ministers and
members of the churches shall be as entirely subordinate to the will of Christ, as an army is to the
orders of its chief.
2. Clarke, “No man that warreth entangleth, etc. - It is well remarked by Grotius, on this
passage, that the legionary soldiers among the Romans were not permitted to engage in husbandry,
merchandise, mechanical employments, or any thing that might be inconsistent with their calling.
Many canons, at different times, have been made to prevent ecclesiastics from intermeddling with
secular employments. The who will preach the Gospel thoroughly, and wishes to give full proof of his
ministry, had need to have no other work. He should be wholly in this thing, that his profiting may
appear unto all. There are many who sin against this direction. They love the world, and labor for it,
and are regardless of the souls committed to their charge. But what are they, either in number or guilt,
compared to the immense herd of men professing to be Christian ministers, who neither read nor
study, and consequently never improve? These are too conscientious to meddle with secular affairs,
and yet have no scruple of conscience to while away time, be among the chief in needless self-
indulgence, and, by their burdensome and monotonous ministry, become an incumbrance to the
Church! Do you inquire: In what sect or party are these to be found? I answer: In All. Idle drones: -
Fruges consumere nati,
“Born to consume the produce of the soil,”
disgrace every department in the Christian Church. They cannot teach because they will not learn.
3. Gill, “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 any trade or business of life, or be concerned in husbandry,
or merchandise of any sort, but were wholly to attend to military exercises, and to the orders of their
general; for to be employed in any secular business was reckoned an entangling of them, a taking of
them off from, and an hindrance to their military discipline: and by this the apostle suggests that
Christ's people, his soldiers, and especially his ministers, should not he involved and implicated in
worldly affairs and cares; for no man can serve two masters, God and mammon; but should wholly
give up themselves to the work and service to which they are called; and be ready to part with all
worldly enjoyments, and cheerfully suffer the loss of all things, when called to it, for the sake of Christ
and his Gospel:
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier; his captain, or general, who has
enlisted him, enrolled and registered him among his soldiers; whom to please should be his chief
concern; as it should be the principal thing attended to by a Christian soldier, or minister of the
Gospel, not to please men, nor to please himself, by seeking his own ease and rest, his worldly
emoluments and advantages, but to please the Lord Christ, in whose book his name is written.
4. Henry, “He must not entangle himself in the affairs of this world, 2Ti_2:4. A soldier, when he has
enlisted, leaves his calling, and all the business of it, that he may attend his captain's orders. If we have
given up ourselves to be Christ's soldiers, we must sit loose to this world; and though there is no
remedy, but we must employ ourselves in the affairs of this life while we are here (we have something
to do here), we must not entangle ourselves with those affairs, so as by them to be diverted and drawn
aside from our duty to God and the great concerns of our Christianity. Those who will war the good
warfare must sit loose to this world. That we may please him who hath chosen us to be soldiers.
Observe, 1. The great care of a soldier should be to please his general; so the great care of a Christian
should be to please Christ, to approve ourselves to him. The way to please him who hath chosen us to
be soldiers is not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life, but to be free from such
entanglements as would hinder us in our holy warfare.
5. Jamison, ““No one while serving as a soldier.”
the affairs of (this) life — “the businesses of life” [Alford]; mercantile, or other than military.
him who hath chosen him — the general who at the first enlisted him as a soldier. Paul himself
worked at tent-making (Act_18:3). Therefore what is prohibited here is, not all other save religious
occupation, but the becoming entangled, or over-engrossed therewith.
6. J. VER O MCGEE, “The Christian is a soldier. How is the child of God a soldier? The last
chapter of
Ephesians tells us that the believer is fighting a spiritual battle and that he needs to put on
the armor of God. Paul said to the Ephesians: "For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand" ( Eph. 6:12-13 ).
" o man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life." Imagine a soldier in
the midst of battle going to his sergeant or his lieutenant and saying, "Sir, I'm sorry to

have to leave, but I have to go over into the city to see about some business; and then I
have a date with a local girl, and I just won't be able to be here for the battle tonight!" A
great many Christians are trying to fight like that today!
"That he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." The believer is to
establish his priorities. Here he is to endure hardness, which means to suffer hardness, as
Paul was suffering. There are those who interpret this verse to mean that a Christian is
not to get married. Well, he is not talking about celibacy, but he is talking about being so
entangled in worldliness that one is not able to live the Christian life.
Let me give you an example. A lady called me one morning while I was a pastor in Los
Angeles. She said, "I was at church yesterday when you asked for those who wanted to
accept Christ. Well, I did accept Christ, but I made no move to come forward for a
particular reason that I want to tell you about. My husband died recently and left me the
operation of our liquor store. I am calling you now because I don't think I can continue
operating it. If you say to get a hammer and break every bottle, I'll do it. But tell me what
I should do." What would you have said? I'll tell you what I told her, "Don't go in there
and break bottles. You won't stop the liquor business by breaking up a few bottles. If you
could, I'd be in favor it. But that has been your only income. I would say that you should
sell the store and get out of the business."
In that way we are not to entangle ourselves in the things of this life. The child of God is
to recognize that he is a soldier. And we are to recognize that the Christian life is not a
playground; it is a battlefield. It is a battlefield where battles are being won, and where
battles are being lost also. There is a real spiritual battle going on.
7. Calvin, “ o man who warreth He continues to make use of the metaphor which he had
borrowed from warfare. Yet, strictly speaking, he formerly called Timothy “a soldier of Christ”
metaphorically; but now he compares profane warfare with spiritual and Christian warfare in
this sense. “The condition of military discipline is such, that as soon as a soldier has enrolled
himself under a general, he leaves his house and all his affairs, and thinks of nothing but war;
and in like manner, in order that we may be wholly devoted to Christ, we must be free from all
the entanglements of this world.”
With the affairs of life By “the affairs of life”, 159 he means the care of governing his family, and
ordinary occupations; as farmers leave their agriculture, and merchants their ships and
merchandise, till they have completed the time that they agreed to serve in war. We must now
apply the comparison to the present subject, that every one who wishes to fight under Christ
must relinquish all the hindrances and employments of the world, and devote himself
unreservedly to the warfare. In short, let us remember the old proverb, Hoc age, 160 which
means, that in the worship of God, we ought to give such earnestness of attention that nothing
else should occupy our thoughts and feelings. The old translation has, “ o man that fights for
God,” etc. But this utterly destroys Paul’s meaning.
Here Paul speaks to the pastors of the Church in the person of Timothy. The statement is general,

but is specially adapted to the ministers of the word. First, let them see what things are
inconsistent within their office, that, freed from those things, they may follow Christ. ext, let
them see, each for himself, what it is that draws them away from Christ; that this heavenly
General may not have less authority over us than that which a mortal man claims for himself
over heathen soldiers who have enrolled under him.
8. F B Meyer, “It is good to begin, but it is better to keep on steadily to the end. It is much when
the young soldier, well equipped for battle, steps out into the early dawn, with the light shining
upon his weapons, but it is more important far, if, in the late afternoon, he is found standing in
the long thin line, resisting the perpetual onset of the foe. We are told of Daniel, that he
"continued" (Da 1:21-note). This, perhaps, is the greatest tribute to him, that through decades he
did not swerve from his loyalty to God, or devotion to the high interests which were committed to
his charge. The men that are steadfast in their loyalty to truth, in their prosecution of duty, in
their holding the post assigned to them by the providence of God, are those which leave the
deepest impression on their contemporaries. It is not the flash of the meteor which the world
really wants, but the constant radiance of the fixed star. What though the storm beats in your
face, and every effort is made to dislodge you, though it seems as if you were forgotten in that
lone post of duty, still stand fast: the whole situation may depend upon your tenacity of purpose,
the campaign may be decided by your holding your ground without flinching. If the Master has
put you as a light on the cellar stair, never desert that post because it is lonely and distasteful, and
because the opportunity of service comes rarely. To be found doing your duty at the unexpected
moment, when His footfall is heard along the corridor, will be a reward for years of patient
waiting." (Meyer, F B: Our Daily Walk)
9. Bernard in his Pastoral Epistles writes that...
Singleness of purpose and detachment from extraneous cares are essential conditions of
successful service.
The Roman code of Theodosius said
We forbid men engaged on military service to engage in civilian occupations.
John Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progress) would undoubtedly refer to such a soldier as "Mr. Facing-
both-ways."
10. PRECEPTAUSTI OTES, “Lea writes that
Paul’s appeal shows the importance of developing an ability to distinguish between doing good
things and doing the best things. Servants of Christ are not merely to be well-rounded dabblers in
all types of trivial pursuits. They are tough-minded devotees of Christ who constantly choose the
right priorities from a list of potential selections. Paul prohibited the loss of single-mindedness
and the longing for an easy life. (Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. Vol. 34: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus. The ew
American Commentary Page 203. ashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers) (Bolding added)
Life Application Bible makes the point that...

"Christian workers, whether pastors or laymen, must watch their outside involvements carefully.
Business ventures, serving on committees or boards, volunteer assignments, and/or home projects
can eat up valuable time and energy"... (and goes on to add the caution that) "Some have taken
Paul’s advice to mean that Christians should do nonstop Christian work. While the image of the
soldier presents helpful insights about endurance, even soldiers need rest. Wise commanders
know their soldiers need breaks from the action. Even when there have been no wounds, the
soldier needs relief from the stress of the battle. We must maintain a healthy balance in our lives
between spiritual activity and spiritual rest. Pastors, teachers, and other ministers cannot
function without times of refreshment. Do you give yourself permission to take time away from
work? (Barton, B, et al: The IV Life Application Commentary Series: Tyndale or Logos)
Where would an army be if every soldier had part-time work that took him away from his
military duties! Our main task is to please our Commander and Lord—not others and not
ourselves.
It was disobedient double-mindedness of one (bad) soldier (Achan) that led to Israel’s defeat
at Ai after their great victory at Jericho (Joshua 7:1-26). Joshua had given a clear command to
the soldiers to dedicate to God all the spoil from Jericho, but Achan who failed to guard the "eye
gate" of his heart,
saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar
of gold fifty shekels in weight, then" he "coveted them and took them” (Josh 7:21)
Achan (and his entire family) were stoned and then burned with fire. Israel also reaped a bitter
defeat in their first attempt to conquer Ai including the loss of 36 Israelites. Why such tragedy?
All because of one unfaithful selfish soldier unwilling to remain unentangled.
The Roman soldier was to avoid all preoccupation with the daily affairs of the marketplace in
order to be free to obey without hesitation or hindrance the commander's order. Engaged in a
continual spiritual war, the Christian soldier likewise must ever concentrate on his Lord's work
and must not devote his time and interests to a business on the side which hinders his faithful
performance of his primary responsibility. Paul is not saying that a Christian soldier should have
no contact at all with his former friends and surroundings, but that he is not to become caught up
and enmeshed in them. Furthermore, Paul does not mean that the Christian worker must never
engage in any secular work, for Paul himself was engaged in "tent making" for a living, but it
was only a means toward furthering his passion of preaching Christ crucified. What Paul is
saying is that the "good soldier" must not allow ordinary affairs of life to become the main object
of existence. Instead, the active service for Christ must always occupy the prominent place, while
the things of this life are kept in the background.
The active soldier must be on guard against becoming so involved in such pursuits that he no
longer feels free to give himself fully to the call of Christian service. Stated another way, a
believer's life is not to be wrapped up in the passing pleasures and non-essentials of this life.
Because we live on the battlefront continually, all things are to be subservient to winning the
battle, remembering that "the battle is the Lord's". (1Sa 17:47)
Christians like soldiers in the field must avoid anything that hampers their effectiveness in
battle. Christian soldiers should be so consumed with their duties that they are oblivious to the
passing pleasures and enticements of the world like God's servant Moses (He 11:24, 25, 26-
note, He 11:27-note).

11. COLLEGE PRESS, “Continuing the metaphor, Paul reminds Timothy of the
complete dedication required by army service. When there is a
choice of activities, all that would hinder obedience to orders from
the superior officer, must be eliminated.
The expression, "on service," can also be translated , "warring."
The preacher is in a holy war! He must give his part in the
battle priority over all else. How very many perfectly legitimate
"affairs of this life" have taken up the time, thought and energy
(to say nothing of money) that should have been given in win-
ning the battle for King Jesus!
Someone immediately thinks of Paul's "making tents" as a
hindering alliance with the affairs of this life. We do not know
just how extensive such "tent making" was, or just what he did
when working at such a task. But one thing we do know, it did
not encumber him from warring the good warfare. Another
thing we can know is that much "tent making" today does hinder
and entangle God's soldier — how much time, thought, energy and
talents can we devote to our captain when it has been spent else-
where? Please do not forget that our captain is touched with the
feeling of our infirmities, both for good and for evil (Heb. 4:12).
He is pleased or hurt by our service. The use of the term "en-
rolled," as here used, is of one who has mustered an army and is
calling for volunteers; for those who will enlist, We have en-
listed at the call of our Commander, Let's give Him a full mea-
sure of service — He deserves it.
5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not
receive the victor’s crown except by competing according
to the rules.

1. Barnes, “And if a man also strive for masteries - As in the Grecian games. See this favorite
illustration of Paul explained in the notes at 1Co_9:24 ff.
Yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully - In conformity with the rules of the games. See
Grotius, in loc. o one could obtain the prize unless he had complied with all the laws of the
games, and had thus given to those with whom he contended, a fair opportunity to succeed. “In
those contests, he who transgressed the rules in the least matter, not only failed of the prize, even
though the apparent victor, but was sometimes disgraced and punished.” Pictorial Bible. So the
apostle here represents the Christian minister as engaged in a struggle or conflict for the crown.
He says that he could not hope to win it unless he should comply with all the laws by which it is
conferred; unless he should subdue every improper propensity, and make an effort like that
evinced by the combatants at the Olympic games; compare the notes at 1Co_9:26-27.
2. Clarke, “If a man also strive for masteries - Εαν δε και αθλῃ τις· If a man contend in the
public games - the Olympic or Isthmian games among the Greeks, so often alluded to and
particularly explained in the notes on 1Co_9:24-26, to which the reader is referred for a full
illustration of this verse.
Is he not crowned - Though he may have conquered, except he strive lawfully - unless he enter
according to the rules of the athlete, and act as these direct. o man, however zealous he may
have been, is to expect the Well done, good and faithful servant, from Jesus Christ, unless he have
labored in the word and doctrine, preached the truth as it is in Jesus, and built up the Church
upon Him who is its only Foundation.
3. Gill, “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 before him, in the right way; looking to Christ, the
mark, pressing through all difficulties, towards the prize, and holds on and out unto the end.
4. Henry, “He must see to it that in carrying on the spiritual warfare he went by rule, that he
observed the laws of war (2Ti_2:5): If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he
strive lawfully. We are striving for mastery, to get the mastery of our lusts and corruptions, to
excel in that which is good, but we cannot expect the prize unless we observe the laws. In doing
that which is good we must take care that we do it in a right manner, that our good may not be
evil spoken of. Observe here, 1. A Christian is to strive for masteries; he must aim at mastering
his own lusts and corruptions. 2. Yet he must strive according to the laws given to him; he must
strive lawfully. 3. Those who do so shall be crowned at last, after a complete victory is obtained.

5. Jamison, “And — “Moreover.”
strive for masteries — “strive in the games” [Alford]; namely, the great national games of
Greece.
yet is he not crowned, except — even though he gain the victory.
strive lawfully — observing all the conditions of both the contest (keeping within the bounds of
the course and stript of his clothes) and the preparation for it, namely, as to self-denying diet,
anointing, exercise, self-restraint, chastity, decorum, etc. (1Co_9:24-27).
6. J. VER O MCGEE, “Here Paul is comparing the Christian to an athlete. "Strive" refers to
contending in the
game. He wants to win, and he is doing everything he can to be the winner. Someone has
said in a very succinct manner, "The only exercise some Christians get is jumping to
conclusions, running down their friends, sidestepping responsibility, and pushing their
luck." That is not the kind of exercise Paul is talking about. He spoke of the Christian life
as being a racecourse, and he said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus" ( Phil. 3:14 ). Paul also said that he wanted to keep his body
under control (see ICor. 9:24-27 ). Paul's goal was to run the Christian race in such a way
that the One who is at the end of the race — the Lord Jesus — would be able to reward him
and be able to say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" ( Matt. 25:21) . A child of
God is to "strive"; God intends that he win the race. Every child of God needs to
recognize this.
He is to "strive lawfully." That is, he has to play by the rules. There is no shortcut toward
living the Christian life. Forget the gimmickry today that condenses Christianity into a
little course or a few rules and regulations. God gave us sixty-six books, and each one of
them is very important. It takes the composite picture to give us the mind and the Word
of God. We are to study the whole Bible. An athlete can't cut the corner of a racetrack.
either can a baseball player run by second base without touching it; he has to touch all
the bases to score. A child of God has to do that, too. If you're going to win, you can't
take any shortcuts.
7. Calvin, “And if any one strive He now speaks of perseverance, that no man may think that he
has done enough when he has been engaged in one or two conflicts. He borrows a comparison
from wrestlers, not one of whom obtains the prize till he has been victorious in the end. Thus he
says:
“In a race all run, but one obtaineth the prize;
run so that ye may obtain.” (1 Corinthians 9:24.)
If any man, therefore, wearied with the conflict, immediately withdraw from the arena to enjoy
repose, he will be condemned for indolence instead of being crowned. Thus, because Christ
wishes us to strive during our whole life, he who gives way in the middle of the course deprives

himself of honor, even though he may have begun valiantly. To strive lawfully is to pursue the
contest in such a manner and to such an extent as the law requires, that none may leave off before
the time appointed.
8. COLLEGE PRESS, “The element of reward is the point of emphasis in this
illustration for Christian service. The connective is the reference
to the rules. There are rules in the army and there are rules in
athletics. The prize is given to those who keep the rules. This
thought pre-supposes the contender would excel in the contest.
But even when excelling, rigid rules must be observed. How does
this relate to the preacher? There are three qualities of character
to be found in the man of God: (1) as a soldier, willingness to
suffer; (2) as an athlete, willingness to discipline himself; (3)
as a farmer, patience for the harvest,
Absolute self-discipline is taught by the example of the Greek
athlete, Instances have been produced where the athlete swore
under oath that he had practiced ten months before the games
(Lock).
Please notice that there is only one participator in this contest,
Each is contending by himself, against himself, and the estab-
lished record,
What are the rules for the contest of the faith? They are set
up by the Lord Jesus. Our Lord "condemned sin in the flesh"
(Romans 8:3); i.e,, He demonstrated perfect self-discipline, The
weapons used by our Lord, in His self-control, are open to all of
us, Prayer, meditation, and fasting are yet the greatest needs of
the present day self-indulgent, instead of self-disciplined, minister.

154763050 ii-timothy-2-commentary

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