In | Three Illustrations for Joining Paul in Suffering

2 Min

Lesson Progress

0% Complete

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
2 Timothy 2:1-7 NIV

Paul uses three different images in this passage to encourage Timothy to endure in his faith through suffering. Paul knows suffering well, having lived a hard life as an apostle of Jesus, and these images may have been those he drew on himself for strength in difficult moments. He says at the end of the passage, “Reflect on what I am saying,” and we get the sense that he’s acknowledging his own well-known trials and pain, as if to say, “We both know that when it comes to suffering, I know what I’m talking about.”

The point that Paul is making with these illustrations is that every worthwhile reward comes at a price, and each of them presents both a requirement and a reward.

Vocation	Requirement	Reward
Soldier	Single-mindedness	Pleasing the one who enlists him
Athlete	Competing by the rules	Winning a prize
Farmer	Working hard	Sharing in a crop

Adapted from: David A. Ackerman, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, 2016, pp. 310-311.

1-2 Timothy and Titus: Pastoral Epistles

Participants 8

In | Three Illustrations for Joining Paul in Suffering

This tutorial shows how to get started with these lessons.