(1) Main message
2:3a Take your share of suffering
This is a repeated theme from 1:8 "So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel."
Now, not only Paul wanted Timothy to share in his suffering due to the Gospel, he also wanted Timothy to teach others to do so.
2:2 And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.
(BKC) Traveling with Paul, Timothy had heard the apostle address scores of diverse audiences. Among all those groups the essence of Paul’s message had not changed. It was the same body of truth Paul had taught Timothy personally. Now, with the apostle nearing the end of his own ministry, what Timothy had heard from Paul he was in turn to entrust (cf. 1:14) to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9).
(BKC) Traveling with Paul, Timothy had heard the apostle address scores of diverse audiences. Among all those groups the essence of Paul’s message had not changed. It was the same body of truth Paul had taught Timothy personally. Now, with the apostle nearing the end of his own ministry, what Timothy had heard from Paul he was in turn to entrust (cf. 1:14) to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9).
Reflection: If Paul was not sure of the Gospel would he suffer for that? If he was sure of the Gospel would he repeatedly ask Timothy to suffer with him? If he was not sure of the Gospel would he told Timothy to entrust others who would teach others about that (4 generations of sufferings)?
What kind of suffering? Physical or mental? In chapter 1, Paul mentioned about the shame. Partly it was mental suffering. But, from the following 3 examples, I believe physical suffering is not excluded. Are you ready for these?
Are you part of these 4 generations of sufferings? Are you Paul, Timothy, faith person that Timothy entrusted to who was competent to teach others, or student of the faith person?
(2) 2:3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
3 examples were used to illustrate that suffering is essential to be qualified as "good.' In every example, we see different faces of sufferings and good are both
A. Solider
2:4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.
Suffering: not getting entangled in matters in everyday life
Suffering: not getting entangled in matters in everyday life
Good: please the one who recruited him.
(NAC) It called for Timothy to give himself fully to the service of his commanding officer: “Singleness of purpose and detachment from extraneous cares are essential conditions of successful service.”...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.
Reflection: We have to make up our mind: whom are we pleasing? Pick and choose is unavoidable. Everyone needs to go through the pain of leaving something behind if we are not pleasing ourselves but God.
2:5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.
Suffering: competes according to the rules (NET) In the ancient world these included requirements for training as well as rules for the competition itself.
Good: crowned as the winner
(NAC) ...in order to emphasize that the Christian life demands the practice of self-discipline which affects both personal behavior and inner attitude. Christians must practice self-control. Each Christian must also have an inner preparedness to endure cheerfully the demands and hardships that spiritual commitment will bring. Paul made a similar point in 1 Cor 9:24–27.
Reflection: Imagine you go through the race and you ran all the way, but at the end you are disqualified for not keeping the rules. Do we keep the rules of God?
C. Farmer
2:6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops. Suffering:work hard
Good: the first share of the crops
(NAC) The term “first” suggests that the energetic Christian “has the priority over those who have either done nothing or been thoroughly idle.” The time of enjoyment of these fruits is eschatological, at the time of Christ’s return (2 Cor 5:10).
Reflection: Easy life, idleness are not for us if we want to get the praise from God.
Audrey
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