STRONG IN THE GRACE OF JESUS

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Key verse: 1

NIV

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son,(A) be strong(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say(C) in the presence of many witnesses(D) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering,(E) like a good soldier(F) of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown(G) except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(H) 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,(I) descended from David.(J) This is my gospel,(K) 9 for which I am suffering(L) even to the point of being chained(M) like a criminal. But God’s word(N) is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything(O) for the sake of the elect,(P) that they too may obtain the salvation(Q) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(R)

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:(S)

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;(T)
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.(U)
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;(V)
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,(W)
    for he cannot disown himself.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2 You then, (A)my child, (B)be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and (C)what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses (D)entrust to faithful men,[a] (E)who will be able to teach others also. 3 (F)Share in suffering as (G)a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier (H)gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 (I)An athlete is not (J)crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is (K)the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, (L)risen from the dead, the (M)offspring of David, (N)as preached in my gospel, 9 (O)for which I am suffering, (P)bound with chains as a criminal. But (Q)the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore (R)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain (S)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with (T)eternal glory. 11 The saying is (U)trustworthy, for:

(V)If we have died with him, we will also (W)live with him;
12 (X)if we endure, we will also reign with him;
(Y)if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 (Z)if we are faithless, (AA)he remains faithful—

for (AB)he cannot deny himself.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Timothy 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

A Christian leader needs the kind of strength that comes from the grace of Jesus and not themselves. Timothy needed this strength to carry on Paul’s ministry of raising disciples and gospel workers. Paul instructed him to pass on his teachings to reliable people who would then teach others. This was not an easy task, by any means! Paul says, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Soldiers have a single-minded focus in obeying their commanders. Athletes play by the rules and know that suffering is part of the game. Farmers must be hardworking and diligent in everything they do. These are the traits that disciples of Jesus must have, and those who suffer for the sake of the gospel will be rewarded.

Are you unsure if you have this kind of strength? Then follow Paul’s advice and remember our Lord Jesus Christ. His suffering brought victory to us all. When our Lord was raised from the dead, it was a sign of his triumph over sin and death. Through his sufferings, we have the hope of eternal life! He is the promised descendant of David who reigns forever as Lord and Messiah. Paul suffered in chains like a criminal so that others might know Christ and the good news of salvation. We, too, must be strong and endure for the sake of the gospel.

Prayer: Father, give us the grace to suffer for the sake of the gospel like a good soldier of Christ.

One Word: Strength comes from grace