A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ

II Timothy 2:1-4, 8-12; 4:5-8

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”—II Timothy 2:3

PAUL’S epistles to Timothy are sometimes referred to as the pastoral epistles because they contain so much instruction to guide the reader in properly ministering to the needs of the church. Yet the apostle also admonishes Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.” (Ch. 4:5) He was not to think that his work began and ended by serving the consecrated followers of the Master. The second epistle to Timothy was written during his final imprisonment at Rome, about A.D. 65 or 66. It was, therefore, a farewell message.

That Paul had been a mountain of strength to his spiritual son, Timothy, there can be no doubt; but in this farewell epistle is a reminder of the never-failing source of strength—“My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Timothy was admonished by the apostle not to forget the things he had learned from his example and teachings. Not only should he remember them himself, but give them to other faithful men who, in turn, could pass them on to others.—Chapter 2:2

In admonishing Timothy along this line, Paul may have had in mind the ancient relay, or torch race. In these races the first runner would start over the course carrying a lighted torch. At a certain distance from the start another runner would be waiting, and to him would be given the lighted torch, who, in turn, would carry it to a third, and so on to the end of the racecourse. The feat was to keep the torch burning throughout the race. Each one who carried it had the responsibility of delivering it to the next runner brightly burning.

How beautifully this illustrates the instructions Paul wrote to Timothy. The apostle himself might be compared to the first runner, who received the torch of truth from the Master. Having almost reached the end of the way, he was now, symbolically speaking, turning it over to Timothy, with instructions that he give it to faithful men who later would convey it to still others. Thus has the light of truth been carried by the faithful from one generation to another throughout the entire age. During the trying period of the Dark Ages it was difficult to hold the torch above the darkening dogmas of men. It became dim but it did not go out. A flicker remained, which gradually, beginning with the Reformation, flamed up more brightly, and was finally fanned into a bright glow of illuminating truth by “that servant” who was raised up by the Lord at the end of the age.

In the next verse (Ch.2:3) Paul changes the metaphor. He now speaks to Timothy as though he were a soldier, rather than a runner in a race. Many thoughts are conjured up in our minds as we consider the life of a soldier. A good soldier is obedient, well disciplined. He is a trained fighter, determined to be victorious in battle. Paul mentions two other qualities of a soldier which correspond to what a Christian should be—first he must endure hardness; and second, so far as possible he must be free from other pursuits of life. “Thou, therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” he writes, and adds, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life.”—Chapter 2, verses 3,4

It required courage in the days of Paul and Timothy to espouse the cause of One who had been crucified as a criminal, and teach that He had been raised from the dead. Chapter 2:8,9, indicates that Paul’s imprisonment was in some special way related to His preaching this message. But he didn’t want Timothy to slacken his efforts in preaching the resurrected Christ even though it did lead to persecution. “Remember,” Paul writes, “that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.”

The apostle was imprisoned because of his faithfulness in preaching the gospel, but he explains, “The Word of God is not bound.” Timothy was still at liberty to preach the Word, and so were others, and Paul rejoiced that while his labors were about ended, the Gospel would live, and would be proclaimed by other faithful men. What a noble attitude! It requires true greatness thus to put one’s self out of the picture and desire that others carry on. It is so easy to conclude that the Lord’s work is ended simply because we are no longer in a position to serve. True servants of God are not that way, and Paul was a true servant.

The apostle knew that he would soon be executed, but to him it was merely the consummation of his covenant to be dead with Christ. He knew that if faithful even unto death, he would live with his Master in the Kingdom. And he was confident that he had been faithful—“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” A crown of life and of glory had been laid up for Paul, which he knew he would receive “at that day.” We are now in the opening years of that period, and all who love His appearing will receive the reward of joint-heirship with Jesus in His Kingdom.

QUESTIONS:

What illustration may the apostle have had in mind when asking Timothy to pass the Gospel on to other faithful men?

In what way does the life of a soldier illustrate the Christian life?

When did Paul expect to receive the crown of life?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |