2 Timothy 2:1–4

Serving Faithfully Despite Hardship

2:1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2:2 And entrust what you heard me say1 in the presence of many others as witnesses2 to faithful people3 who will be competent4 to teach others as well. 2:3 Take your share of suffering5 as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2:4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please6 the one who recruited him.

1	tn Grk “what you heard from me” (cf. 1:13).
2	tn Grk “through many witnesses.” The “through” is used here to show attendant circumstances: “accompanied by,” “in the presence of.”
3	tn Grk “faithful men”; but here ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) is generic, referring to both men and women.
4	tn Or “able” (see Paul’s use of this word in regard to ministry in 2 Cor 2:16; 3:5–6).
5	tn Grk “suffer hardship together,” implying “join with me and others in suffering” (cf. 1:8).
6	tn Grk “that he may please.”