2 Timothy 2 · Verse 3

2 Timothy 2:3

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

2 Timothy 2:3, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:3 in other translations

BSB	Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
WEB	You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
ASV	Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
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.
BBE	Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.
Webster	Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

What does 2 Timothy 2:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. Thou therefore endure hardness--The oldest manuscripts have no "Thou therefore," and read, "Endure hardship with (me)." "Take thy share in suffering" [Conybeare and Howson].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. 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, 2Cor 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 hard, ship 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?

(d) "hardness" 1Timm 1:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:1-7

As our trials increase, we need to grow stronger in that which is good; our faith stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Christ stronger. This is opposed to our being strong in our own strength. All Christians, but especially ministers, must be faithful to their Captain, and resolute in his cause. The great care of a Christian must be to please Christ. We are to strive to get the mastery of our lusts…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 2:1-7 →

2 Timothy 2:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὖνounthereforeG3767

συγκακοπάθησονsugkakopathēsondo share in sufferingG4777

ὡςhōsasG5613

καλὸςkalos[a] goodG2570

στρατιώτηςstratiōtēssoldierG4757

ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547

Ἰησοῦ.IēsouJesus.G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:3

Hebrews 12:2-3
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
2 Timothy 4:5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 1:8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Ephesians 6:11-18
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; …
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Hebrews 10:32
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
2 Corinthians 1:6
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
2 Timothy 3:11
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Hebrews 6:15
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

endure.
10; 1:8; 3:11; 4:5; 1Co 13:7; 2Co 1:6; Heb 6:15; 10:32; 11:27; 12:2,3
Jas 1:12
a good.
2Co 10:3-5; Eph 6:11-18; 1Ti 1:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Timothy 2:2
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.
2 Timothy 2:3
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Tú pues, sufre trabajos como fiel soldado de Jesucristo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Prends ta part des souffrances comme un bon soldat de Jésus Christ.
German Elberfelder 1871	Nimm teil an den Trübsalen als ein guter Kriegsmann Jesu Christi.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Labora sicut bonus miles Christi Jesu.