2 Timothy 2:3
What does 2 Timothy 2:3 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Timothy 2:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Timothy 2:3 means
Paul invites Timothy to share in suffering with him like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Christian service is warfare, not leisure. A good soldier accepts hardship as part of allegiance to his commander. Paul does not promise escape from pain; he normalizes it and dignifies it by linking it to Christ’s campaign. “With me” stresses solidarity—Paul’s own chains are the lived pattern Timothy is to embrace. Choosing hardship for Christ’s sake is not defeatist; it is loyal participation in the mission. This verse counters any expectation that faithfulness guarantees comfort. It calls Timothy to courageous endurance, leaning on grace, for the sake of the Lord whose cause he serves.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Context
After charging Timothy to pass on the truth (v.2), Paul frames the cost of that task. Verse 3 introduces the soldier image, inaugurating a trio of metaphors (soldier, athlete, farmer) that will portray necessary endurance, discipline, and patient toil (vv.3–6). The soldier’s hardship sets up the next verse, which explains a soldier’s single-minded focus (v.4). Together, these images prepare Timothy for Paul’s personal testimony of suffering (v.9) and the trustworthy saying about enduring with Christ (vv.11–13).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 10:32
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;
- 2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
- Hebrews 6:15
And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
- 1 Corinthians 13:7
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
- Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- 2 Timothy 3:11
persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all the Lord delivered me.
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