The Meaning of 2 Timothy 2:3 Explained

2 Timothy 2:3

KJV: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

YLT: thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;

Darby: Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

ASV: Suffer hardship with me , as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou  therefore  endure hardness,  as  a good  soldier  of Jesus  Christ. 

What does 2 Timothy 2:3 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Timothy 2:1-9 - "a Good Soldier Of Christ Jesus"
Soldier, 2 Timothy 2:1-4 : There is grace enough in Jesus for every need, but we must avail ourselves of it. We can expect nothing less than hardship, since life is a battlefield. Our one aim should be to please Him who chose us to be soldiers. In order to be all that he would have us be, we must avoid entangling ourselves in the conditions around us. We must resemble a garrison in the town where it is quartered, and from which it may at any hour be summoned away. The less encumbered we are, the more easily shall we be able to execute the least command of our Great Captain. How high an honor it is to be enrolled among His soldiers!
Athlete, 2 Timothy 2:5 : Life is an amphitheater, filled with celestial spectators. Probably our worst antagonist is found in our own heart. If we win the crown, we must observe regulations as to diet, exercise, purity, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Husbandman, 2 Timothy 2:6 : We ought to be working for God in His vineyard or harvest-field; but we are allowed to partake of the fruits. It is imperative that we should be nourished while we labor. In all these positions we must remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. We must draw upon the power of His resurrection, and to do this, we must live on the heaven-side of the Cross. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live," Galatians 2:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Timothy 2

1  Timothy is exhorted again to constancy and perseverance
17  Of Hymenaeus and Philetus
19  The foundation of the Lord is sure
22  He is taught whereof to beware, and what to follow after

Greek Commentary for 2 Timothy 2:3

Suffer hardship with me [συνκακοπατησον]
See note on 2 Timothy 1:8 for this verb. The old preacher challenges the young one to share hardship with him for Christ. [source]
As a good soldier [ος καλος στρατιωτης]
Paul does not hesitate to use this military metaphor (this word only here for a servant of Christ) with which he is so familiar. He had already used the metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 10:3.; 1 Timothy 1:18. In Philemon 2:25 he called Epaphroditus “my fellow-soldier” (συνστρατιωτην μου — sunstratiōtēn mou) as he did Archippus in Philemon 1:2. [source]
Endure hardness [συνκακοπάθησον]
Comp. 2 Timothy 1:8. A.V. verse fails to give the force of συν withRend. suffer hardship with me. [source]
Soldier [στρατιώτης]
Only here in Pastorals. oP. Frequent in Acts. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 2:3

John 10:11 The good shepherd [ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς]
Literally, the shepherd the good (shepherd). Καλὸς , though not of frequent occurrence in John, is more common than ἀγαθός , good, which occurs but four times and three times out of the four in the neuter gender, a good thing, or that which is good. Καλὸς in John is applied to wine (John 2:10), three times to the shepherd in this chapter, and twice to works (John 10:32, John 10:33). In classical usage, originally as descriptive of outward form, beautiful; of usefulness, as a fair haven, a fair wind. Auspicious, as sacrifices. Morally beautiful, noble; hence virtue is called τὸ καλὸν . The New Testament usage is similar. Outwardly fair, as the stones of the temple (Luke 21:5): well adapted to its purpose, as salt (Mark 9:50): competent for an office, as deacons (1 Timothy 4:6); a steward (1 Peter 4:10); a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3): expedient, wholesome (Mark 9:43, Mark 9:45, Mark 9:47): morally good, noble, as works (Matthew 5:16); conscience (Hebrews 13:18). The phrase it is good, i.e., a good or proper thing (Romans 14:21). In the Septuagint καλὸς is the most usual word for good as opposed to evil (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 24:50; Isaiah 5:20). In Luke 8:15, καλὸς and ἀγαθός are found together as epithets of the heart; honest (or virtuous, noble) and good. The epithet καλὸς , applied here to the shepherd, points to the essential goodness as nobly realized, and appealing to admiring respect and affection. As Canon Westcott observes, “in the fulfillment of His work, the Good Shepherd claims the admiration of all that is generous in man.” [source]
2 Timothy 2:10 Which is in Christ Jesus []
The phrase salvation which is in Christ Jesus, N.T.oFor other collocations with in Christ Jesus in Pastorals, see 1 Timothy 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:13; 2 Timothy 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:15. [source]
2 Timothy 1:8 Be partaker of the afflictions [συνκακοπάθησον]
Only here and 2 Timothy 2:3. olxx, oClass. The compounded συν withnot with the gospel, as Rev., but with me. Share afflictions with me for the gospel. [source]
2 Timothy 1:8 The testimony of our Lord [το μαρτυριον του κυριου]
For the old word μαρτυριον — marturion see note on 1 Corinthians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 2:1. Paul probably has in mind the saying of Jesus preserved in Mark 8:38 (Luke 9:26). See also 2 Timothy 2:12. His prisoner (τον δεσμιον αυτου — ton desmion autou). As in Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:1, Philemon 1:9; Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1 (the first Roman captivity). Paul is in his last captivity and refers to it again in 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:9. Suffer hardship with First aorist active imperative of the double compound συνκακοπατεω — sunkakopatheō first known use and in N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 2:3 (in eccles. writers). But κακοπατεω — kakopatheō to suffer evil, is old verb (2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5). Paul is fond of compounds of συν — sun Paul challenges Timothy by this verb which he apparently coins for the purpose to a joint According to the power of God (κατα δυναμιν τεου — kata dunamin theou). Given by God (2 Corinthians 6:7). [source]
2 Timothy 1:8 Suffer hardship with [συνκακοπατησον]
First aorist active imperative of the double compound συνκακοπατεω — sunkakopatheō first known use and in N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 2:3 (in eccles. writers). But κακοπατεω — kakopatheō to suffer evil, is old verb (2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5). Paul is fond of compounds of συν — sun Paul challenges Timothy by this verb which he apparently coins for the purpose to a joint According to the power of God (κατα δυναμιν τεου — kata dunamin theou). Given by God (2 Corinthians 6:7). [source]
James 5:13 Is afflicted [κακοπαθεῖ]
See on the kindred word κακοπάθεια ,suffering, James 5:10. Only here and 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5. [source]
James 5:10 Of suffering [της κακοπατιας]
Old word from κακοπατης — kakopathēs (suffering evil, κακοπατεω — kakopatheō in James 5:13; 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9), here only in N.T.Of patience (μακροτυμιας — makrothumias). Like μακροτυμεω — makrothumeō in James 5:7. See both μακροτυμια — makrothumia and υπομονη — hupomonē in 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 1:11 (the one restraint from retaliating, the other not easily succumbing).In the name of As in Jeremiah 20:9. With the authority of the Lord (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 198). [source]
James 5:13 Is any suffering? [κακοπατει τισ]
See James 5:10 for κακοπατια — kakopathia The verb in N.T. occurs only here and in 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5. The lively interrogative is common in the diatribe and suits the style of James. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 2:3 mean?

Share in suffering as [a] good soldier of Christ Jesus
Συνκακοπάθησον ὡς καλὸς στρατιώτης Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

Συνκακοπάθησον  Share  in  suffering 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: συγκακοπαθέω  
Sense: to suffer hardship together with one.
καλὸς  [a]  good 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: καλός  
Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
στρατιώτης  soldier 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: στρατιώτης  
Sense: a (common) soldier.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.