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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Tim 2 V1 V2 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26
In this paragraph Paul compared Christians to three types of people in order to give Timothy three different instructions.
As a soldier endures hardship, endure hardship for the Lord.
As an athlete is self-disciplined, be self-disciplined.
As a farmer works hard, work hard for the Lord.
In 2:3 Paul explicitly stated one of the two main themes of the letter. That theme is that a Christian who wants to serve the Lord must be like a loyal soldier. He must be willing to endure suffering.
Join me in suffering,
¶ Suffer your part/share,
¶ Accept/Endure suffering,
Join me in suffering: This clause is translated from one Greek verb that means, “to endure hardship with” or “to join/share in suffering.” In Greek, the verb has no explicit object, that is, it does not say with whom Timothy should suffer. Because of this, English versions differ in how they translate this verb:
Many English versions also leave the object implicit and use a clause that does not require an object. For example, the CEV says:
Endure your share of suffering…. See also RSV, GNT, JBP, NET, REB, NJB.
Some versions supply the object “us.” That is, Paul was telling Timothy to share in the suffering he and other believers were enduring. So the NIV says:
Endure hardship with us See also NCV.
Other versions like the BSB supply the object “me.” That is, Paul was telling Timothy to share in the suffering that he himself was enduring. So NLT says,
Endure suffering along with me…. See also NASB, GW.
If possible, you should follow option (1) like the Greek text and the majority of versions and translate it with a verb or phrase that does not require an object.
If, however, you must make explicit the people with whom Timothy was to suffer, here are some suggestions:
Endure hardship with us (NIV)
Suffer with us (excl)
like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
as a good soldier of Christ Jesus suffers.
as a good soldier of Christ Jesus accepts/endures suffering.
like a good soldier of Christ Jesus: Paul compared Christians to soldiers, because both Christians and soldiers need to endure hardship. Also both Christians and soldiers have a commander. The Christians’ commander is Christ Jesus.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
συνκακοπάθησον
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Συγκακοπάθησον ὡς καλός στρατιώτης Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ)
Here the phrase Suffer together could indicate that Timothy should suffer with: (1) Paul. Alternate translation: [Suffer together with me] (2) all Christians who suffer. Alternate translation: [Suffer together with other believers]
Note 2 topic: translate-textvariants
συνκακοπάθησον
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Συγκακοπάθησον ὡς καλός στρατιώτης Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ)
Many ancient manuscripts read Suffer together. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts read “You, therefore, suffer.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὡς καλὸς στρατιώτης Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Συγκακοπάθησον ὡς καλός στρατιώτης Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ)
Here Paul speaks as if Timothy were a soldier who fights for and serves Jesus Christ. A good soldier is one who obeys his commander even if that means suffering and pain. So, Timothy will be like a good soldier when he obeys Jesus even if that means that he will Suffer together with Paul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [as if you were a good soldier and Jesus Christ were your commander] or [as someone who faithfully serves Jesus Christ no matter what happens]
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.