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 

2 Timothy 2:24

2:24 And the Lord’s slave ¹⁴  must not engage in heated disputes ¹⁵  but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,

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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.”

¹⁴ tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”

¹⁵ tn Grk “must not fight” or “must not quarrel.” The Greek verb is related to the noun translated “infighting” in v. 23.