2 Timothy 2:1-13. Soldiers for Christ
The word ‘soldier’ comes 54 times in the Old Testament and 36 times in the New. The Bible teaches us that Christians are signed up soldiers of Christ. William Booth was a Methodist preacher who established the Salvation Army as a missionary organisation to fight against the forces of sin and evil. He thought that this required a more disciplined and organised approach than seen in other denominations. He adopted ranks like ‘officers’ and the use of uniforms.
The apostle Paul was also concerned that some churches and their leaders had an undisciplined approach to their Christian lives which was to the detriment of both the individuals and the churches. Some were preferring the comfortable life rather than a costly one. They liked a gospel that does not involve carrying the cross. To be a Christian, the Bible says you must “take up your cross” — which means daily, loyal, self-denying commitment to Christ, even when it’s costly. Jesus said:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
This is a compulsory command of our Commanding officer, it is not an option.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy, his last will and testament shows this longing that church leaders and the churches understand the need for commitment and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 2:1-13 is a marvellous passage which exhorts Christians to be strong. In Paul’s first open letter to Timothy he had listed the qualifications that church elders and pastors need to have. They all need to be able to manage their households and keep their children respectful in every way.
“He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” 1 Timothy 3:4-5
If a man is so weak that he cannot look after his own children, how can he lead a church: There must be some strength of character if people are to respect a leader.
This passage begins:
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1
Note he doesn’t say,
“Dear Timothy, my son, you cannot do this in your own strength, wait on God to do it.”
In contrast to such common thinking today Paul says ‘Be strong’. Christians have been given God’s Spirit, we have his power, now we must get on and use him. Paul had reminded Timothy at the beginning of this letter:
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
If we have been given this Spirit from God, what are we to do? Paul continued:
“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life.” 2 Timothy 1:8-9
The ‘us’ in this section must refer to all Christians. We must be strong and determined. As we step out and act for Christ we then find that we have the power to achieve the goal.
The British Soldiers Values and Standards booklet explains:
“All soldiers need courage, both physical and mora;”
This certainly applies to soldiers for Christ. The RAFs ‘Ethos and Core Values and Standards’ describes moral courage as -
“The Conviction to do what you believe to be right, even though it might be unpopular or dangerous and the personal cost may be high.”
Jesus who we follow and whose Spirit has been given to us, was the most morally courageous person ever to live. He gave up everything in this world for us.
What was Timothy to prioritise?
Teaching others about Jesus is the priority and that can be tough. After telling Timothy to be strong he says:
“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.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Just as Paul’s priority in life was to teach people about Jesus, so Timothy was to make this his priority. But it doesn’t stop there - those he taught were to make it a priority to teach others the gospel. Nothing has changed.
Not, ‘Lord I can’t do this, you will have to do this by your Spirit.’ Instead Paul is saying ‘Get out there, take a lead, be strong, teach others and then you will find that God’s grace is with you. It can be painful and costly.
Three illustrations of the Christian life
Paul continues to give three examples, of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer.
A soldier
He starts with the life of a soldier:
“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.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Being a soldier is a dangerous way of living. You may be shot at. It will invite fighting. Paul applies these illustrations as he look s back at his life that was soon to be ended,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race . . “ 2 Timothy 4:7
If we are to be soldiers for Christ we will be attacked. Anyone who wants to be a christian servant without receiving scars will never be Mr Valiant for Truth. This doesn’t mean we are spoiling for a fight and love the quarrel. Look on to later in this chapter:
“Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” 2 Timothy 2:14
And again a little later:
“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” 2 Timothy 2:23-24
We can all see the point, our weapon is teaching the Word of God, arguments not only have no place but are definitely harmful.
Paul finished his first letter to Timothy with this same military analogy;
“Guard what has been entrusted to your care.” 1 Timothy 6:20
Be on guard for there are many around who have lost this commission. Paul says ‘Don’t become like them, be a soldier for Christ.
“Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21
Two characteristics of a man in active service:
“He doesn’t let himself be distracted by the preoccupations of civilian life.”
“His thinking is dominated by a single-minded concern to carry out his Commanding Officer’s plans.
This is why we are soldiers of the Lord Jesus. The motto of the US Marine Corps would be a great motto for Christians. It is ‘Semper Fi’, short for the Latin ‘Semper Fidelis’ which means ‘Always faithful’.
An athlete
Paul now uses another illustration to make a similar point,
“Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:5
These words are not so much about the rules of the match but about the preparation. If you want to make the grade and be a top athlete and represent your nation there is no alternative to hard work and regular discipline, even when you are tired and don’t feel like it.
The most prestigous of the Games in Paul’s time were the Olympic Games that took place in Olympia, in the Peloponnese every four years. These were held between 776 BC to at least the 4th century AD. Every athlete had to swear an oath at the Altar of Zeus Horkios (Zeus of Oaths) The oath was made in the presence of the statue of Zeus, holding thunderbolts in both hands — symbolizing divine witness and judgment. This was their oath:
“I swear by Zeus that I have been in training for ten months and will not violate the rules of the Games.”
This 10-month training period was mandatory. This oath wasn’t just a formality — it was a sacred pledge of discipline and integrity. Breaking the oath or the rules could result in public disgrace, fines, or statues of Zeus (Zanes) erected to shame cheaters.
The spiritual seriousness of the oath mirrors Paul’s use of athletic metaphors in Scripture showing that discipline, self-control, and honor were central both in sport and in faith. Paul used this analogy when he wrote to the weak church at Corinth:
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:25–27
Christchurch puts on morning and evening services and home groups primarily to train and equip God’s people to go into the world to shine for the Lord. That is how we worship him best. If you have the interpersonal skills and ability to teach, aim to be a teacher, starting in your home group. It is the preparation to teach that teaches the teachers most.
A hard working farmer
“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” 2 Timothy 2:6
Farmers have always been known to be hard-working. Getting up early, working late, going to market, selling their wares. This is what Christians should be like.
In the 1662 Church of England Book of Common Prayer, in the service for the ordination of presbyters, the Bishop says these words,
“Consider how studious you ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures and for the self-same cause, how you ought to forsake and set aside all worldly cares and studies and give yourself wholly to this office.”
These words should surely apply to all who aspire to be elders and leaders in their church. As Paul said in 1 Timothy:
“. . . train yourself to be godly.” 1 Timothy 4:7
The context of this is beware new theologies that are not what Jesus and his disciples emphasised and beware of stories that other people tell you:
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly” 1 Timothy 4:7
Remember there are no short cuts to being an effective soldier or athlete. We must encourage each other to keep going with the training. We neglect this to our own peril and to the peril of the church. Look on to what Paul continues to say:
“. . . devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift,” 1 Timothy 4:13-14
“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 1 Timothy 4:15
We must not only teach others, we must apply it to ourselves. Let us all ask ourselves, ‘Am I getting to know God’s Word well so I can pass on the message to others’. ‘How effective am I at persuading others to join Jesus and his church?
Llewellyn Roberts was a great pastor who became the Principal of a Bible College. He was asked to speak to ministerial students and gave a great account about his very effective ministry in earlier years. After the talk he was surrounded by students and one student asked him:
“Mr Roberts, what is the secret of success in ministry?”
Everyone wants to know short cuts we can follow. His reply was very apostolic, although he couldn’t say his ‘h’s’. He looked at the student with a slightly quizzical face and said,
“‘ard work. Just ‘ard work”
A major part of what he did with young people was to ensure he really became close friends with them all so they wanted to bring their friends to meet him. What was interesting that after he said this the crowd of students quickly melted away.
Unfortunately this is the thinking of many today. Christian ministry whether full time or part-time is not rewarding enough. Low pay and a lot of pressure. What is being forgotten is the ministry of Jesus. Of course taking up the cross is tough but don’t forget there is a resurrection too. Isn’t that worth working towards?
When we were last in Ethiopia we saw an increasing number of able young people going into what they call ‘glory ministry’. They expect not prison but prosperity, not tears but triumph. Many today like to hear about such ministries. The web is full of miraculous glory stories.
Those who are living for this world’s priorities should read on:
The example of Jesus and his apostles
Life for Jesus and his apostles was far from easy:
“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.” 2 Timothy 2:8-9
It was hard work. There is little point in praying that God’s spirit will work if we are not working hard for the Lord. Throughout this country open Brethren meetings and this mistake. People would pray that god would bring outsiders to their evening gospel service but week after week it was the same six who attended.
But someone may reply,
“Surely we need to emphasise the supernatural power of the risen Christ.”
Paul would answer. Yes I do believe in the resurrection of Christ. I do believe in the power of the Spirit. But Jesus taught us that we must take up our cross. And that there is no easy short cut to success. Listen to what Paul experienced as he lived for Christ, for the gospel:
“This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.” 2 Timothy 2:8-9
What would Jesus or Paul say about the lackadaisical, casual, halfhearted version of Christianity that is so rife in so many denominations in the West. We must work much harder to get the gospel message known in our society.
Some said in Paul’s time.
“Why did God allow Paul to be imprisoned for so long? We have prayed often for Paul’s release so he could have an open door for the gospel but all God did was to have him locked up behind doors. Doesn’t this suggest that Paul is out of the will of God.”
People at Philippi thought like this and Paul wrote to them
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” Philippians 1:12
Mass rallies may be out of the question but we can still win people one by one. It must have been a great privilege to be a soldier who was chained to Paul for four hours a time. Can you imagine the set-piece lines that Paul would have used to get them chatting about Jesus? Perhaps,
“Do you know why I am here?”
“What do you know about Jesus of Nazareth?”
And so he would explain to those men the gospel story
Look at verse 9:
“But God’s word is not chained . . .”
There is still a place for evangelistic services but by far the best way to get people there is by personal invitation. Baptism services are great for this. Wasn’t I good to see how George and Sorcha had invited may non-churchgoers to come. Similarly our open air baptism services are so easy to invite people to come and hear the gospel in a n enjoyable loving environment.
Paul himself was happy to live such a life that he knew would result in him having to endure suffering. He knew the Lord was with him and that his Lord had allowed him to suffer. He knew that God was using the situation he was in:
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:10
Mote his confidence in having an eternal perspective. That is where his great reward will come.
Let us look at our Lord’s own example and the decision he wants each of us to make:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13
We all have a choice to make, we have either died with him and are enduring with him or we are being secret Christians who don’t find ways to draw others to him. Unfortunately there will be some who were involved with Christ but have turned their backs on him. Such people will be disowned by Christ at the judgment. If we are not ‘out and out’ believers we will scape into heaven, because God is faithful, but the question is what sort of reception will we get. Will he say to us -
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:23
It really will be well worth while making our service of him our life’s priority.
On a trip to India a senior Christian from the USA was talking with someone who had been a Hindu priest, named Satis Prasad. The Indian said he wanted to come to our country to work as a missionary among the Americans. The Christian assumed that that he wanted to convert Americans to the Hindu religion, but when asked, Satis Prasad said,
“Oh no, I would like to convert them to the Christian religion. Christianity cannot survive in the abstract. It needs not membership, but believers. The people of your country may claim they believe in Christianity, but from what I read at this distance, Christianity is more a custom than anything else. I would ask that either you accept the teachings of Jesu in your everyday life and in your affairs as a nation, or stop invoking His name as sanction for everything you do. I want to help save Christianity for the Christian."
“Keep reminding God’s people of these things.” 2 Timothy 2:14
BVP
