Paul uses three striking and contrasting types of people to help us understand what it means to be a believer: a soldier, who must be fit, obey orders and, at some point, fight; an athlete, who must train and compete according to the rules; and a farmer, who must till the land and sow in season to reap a crop. Each then receives their reward: the approval of the commanding officer, receiving a victor’s crown and having the first share of the harvest.

Each image also involves hard work and hardship. None of those successes – approval, victory and a share in the harvest – are easily attained. Paul is clear with Timothy that there’s a need for strength and endurance if the gospel is to be proclaimed, and people are to find salvation in Christ Jesus. For anyone who wants a faith that demands little of them, these words are challenging. Suffering because of the hard work of faith is pretty much inevitable, but the rewards are out of this world (vs 10–12)!

‘... just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him …
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.’¹

Paul exhorts Timothy to ‘be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus’ (v 1). How can one be strong in grace? Grace means undeserved favour. Just as we are saved by grace,² so we must live by grace.³ This means trusting completely in Christ and his power, not trying to live in our own strength alone. 

Paul then sounds his frequent note about preserving and transmitting the truth.⁴ Paul had entrusted the gospel to Timothy, and Timothy must pass it on to other teachers. If the church consistently followed this example, it would expand rapidly, as believers learned to teach others and commission them, in turn, to teach others. In the great commission, Jesus asks us to make and teach disciples.⁵ Unfortunately, some foreign missionaries in India made converts, not disciples, who were dependent on them for everything. Today we teach that the local church should not only be self-governed and self-supporting, but also self-propagating. In North East India the Ao Nagas and the Mizos began to go out after the harvest and share the gospel in other villages. After 10 years, there were no more unconverted Ao Nagas or Mizos and so they turned to other tribes. 

Paul uses three pictures of the Christian life. First, the soldier (vs 3,4): ‘endure hardship’⁶ suggests pain and suffering as part of the Christian’s lot in life. That will inevitably happen as we engage in warfare against evil. Second, the athlete (v 5): Paul is fond of athletic metaphors. Christians must be good spiritual athletes. The goal of an athlete is to ‘receive the victor’s crown’, but only if an athlete competes ‘according to the rules’. Third, Paul speaks of the farmer (vs 6,7): pastors must sow the seed and cultivate. Paul emphasises hard work and diligence. 

Lord, help us to be strong and faithful in ministry.   

¹ Col 2:6,7  ² Eph 2:8,9  ³ Rom 6:14  ⁴ Cf 2 Tim 1:13,14  ⁵ Matt 28:16–20  ⁶ New King James version