2 Timothy 2:3-10

2:3 Take your share of suffering ¹  as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2:4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please ²  the one who recruited him. 2:5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner ³  unless he competes according to the rules. ⁴  2:6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops. 2:7 Think about what I am saying and ⁵  the Lord will give you understanding of all this. ⁶ 

2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David; ⁷  such is my gospel, ⁸  2:9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment ⁹  as a criminal, but God’s message ¹⁰  is not imprisoned! ¹¹  2:10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, ¹²  that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory. ¹³ 

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¹ tn Grk “suffer hardship together,” implying “join with me and others in suffering” (cf. 1:8).

² tn Grk “that he may please.”

³ tn Grk “will not be crowned,” speaking of the wreath awarded to the victor.

⁴ sn According to the rules (Grk “lawfully, by law”) referring to the rules of competition. In the ancient world these included requirements for training as well as rules for the competition itself.

⁵ tn The Greek word here usually means “for,” but is used in this verse for a milder continuation of thought.

⁶ tn Grk “in all things.”

⁷ tn Grk “of David’s seed” (an idiom for physical descent).

⁸ tn Grk “according to my gospel.”

⁹ tn Or “chains,” “bonds.”

¹⁰ tn Or “word.”

¹¹ tn Or “chained,” “bound.”

¹² tn Grk “the elect.”

¹³ tn Grk “with eternal glory.”