2 Timothy 2 · Verse 4

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.

2 Timothy 2:4, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:4 in other translations

BSB	A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
WEB	No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
ASV	No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
YLT	no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please;
DARBY	No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier.
BBE	A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army.
Webster	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.

What does 2 Timothy 2:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. "No one while serving as a soldier." the affairs of (this) life--"the businesses of life" [Alford]; mercantile, or other than military. him who hath chosen him--the general who at the first enlisted him as a soldier. Paul himself worked at tent-making (Ac 18:3). Therefore what is prohibited here is, not all other save religious occupation, but the becoming entangled, or over-engrossed therewith.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life. Having alluded to the soldier, and stated one thing in which the Christian minister is to resemble him, another point of resemblance is suggested to the mind of the apostle. Neither the minister nor the soldier is to be encumbered with the affairs of this life, and the one should not be more than the other. This is always a condition in becoming a soldier. He gives up his own business during the time for which he is enlisted, and devotes himself to the service of his country. The farmer leaves his plough, and the mechanic his shop, and the merchant his store, and the student his books, and the lawyer his brief; and neither of them expect to pursue these things while engaged in the service of their country. It would be wholly impracticable to carry on the plans of a campaign, if each one of these classes should undertake to prosecute his private business. See this fully illustrated from the Rules of War among the Romans, by Grotius, in loc. Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry, or to engage in any husbandry or trade; and they were forbidden to act as tutors to any person, or curators to any man's estate, or proctors in the cause of other men. The general principle was, that they were excluded from those relations, agencies, and engagements, which it was thought would divert their minds from that which was to be the sole object of pursuit. So with the ministers of the gospel. It is equally improper for them to 'entangle' themselves with the business of a farm or plantation; with plans of speculation and gain, and with any purpose of worldly aggrandizement. The minister of the gospel accomplishes the design of his appointment only when he can say in sincerity, that he "is not entangled with the affairs of this life." Comp. 1Cor 9:25-27.

That he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. That is, him who has enlisted him, or in whose employ he is. His great object is, to approve himself to him. It is not to pursue his own plans, or to have his own will, or to accumulate property or fame for himself. His will is absorbed in the will of his commander, and his purpose is accomplished if he meet with his approbation. Nowhere else is it so true that the will of one becomes lost in that of another, as in the case of the soldier. In an army it is contemplated that there shall be but one mind, one heart, one purpose, that of the commander; and that the whole army shall be as obedient to that as the members of the human body are to the one will that controls all. The application of this is obvious. The grand purpose of the minister of the gospel is to please Christ. He is to pursue no separate plans, and to have no separate will, of his own; and it is contemplated that the whole corps of Christian ministers and members of the churches shall be as entirely subordinate to the will of Christ, as an army is to the orders of its chief.

(e) "warreth" 1Cor 9:25,26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 No man that warreth entangleth, etc. - It is well remarked by Grotius, on this passage, that the legionary soldiers among the Romans were not permitted to engage in husbandry, merchandise, mechanical employments, or any thing that might be inconsistent with their calling. Many canons, at different times, have been made to prevent ecclesiastics from intermeddling with secular employments. The who will preach the Gospel thoroughly, and wishes to give full proof of his ministry, had need to have no other work. He should be wholly in this thing, that his profiting may appear unto all. There are many who sin against this direction. They love the world, and labor for it, and are regardless of the souls committed to their charge. But what are they, either in number or guilt, compared to the immense herd of men professing to be Christian ministers, who neither read nor study, and consequently never improve? These are too conscientious to meddle with secular affairs, and yet have no scruple of conscience to while away time, be among the chief in needless self-indulgence, and, by their burdensome and monotonous ministry, become an incumbrance to the Church! Do you inquire: In what sect or party are these to be found? I answer: In All. Idle drones: - Fruges consumere nati, "Born to consume the produce of the soil," disgrace every department in the Christian Church. They cannot teach because they will not learn.

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 2:4 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.

οὐδεὶςoudeisNo [one]G3762

στρατευόμενοςstrateuomenosserving as a soldierG4754

ἐμπλέκεταιempleketaientangles himselfG1707

ταῖςtaisin theG3588

τοῦtouof thisG3588

βίουbioulifeG979

πραγματείαις,pragmateiaisaffairs,G4230

ἵναinaso thatG2443

τῷtōthe [one]G3588

στρατολογήσαντιstratologēsantihaving enlisted himG4758

ἀρέσῃ.aresēhe may please.G700

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

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:4

1 Thessalonians 2:4
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Luke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
2 Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
1 Corinthians 7:22-23
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1 Corinthians 9:25-26
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Luke 9:59-62
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2 Corinthians 5:9
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
1 Timothy 6:9-12
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Deuteronomy 20:5-7
And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

that warreth.
De 20:5-7; Lu 9:59-62
entangleth.
4:10; Lu 8:14; 1Co 9:25,26; 1Ti 6:9-12; 2Pe 2:20
that he.
1Co 7:22,23; 2Co 5:9; 1Th 2:4

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

Context

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.
2 Timothy 2:5
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Ninguno que milita se embaraza en los negocios de la vida; á fin de agradar á aquel que lo tomó por soldado.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Nul homme qui va à la guerre ne s’embarrasse dans les affaires de la vie, afin qu’il plaise à celui qui l’a enrôlé pour la guerre;
German Elberfelder 1871	Niemand, der Kriegsdienste tut, verwickelt sich in die Beschäftigungen des Lebens, auf daß er dem gefalle, der ihn angeworben hat.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nemo militans Deo implicat se negotiis sæcularibus: ut ei placeat, cui se probavit.