C1 | 1-7. Suffer evil (kakopatheo).  C R O W N. |

i1 | 1, 2. Things heard of me.

j1 | k1 | 3. The SOLDIER.

l1 | 4. No entanglement.

k2 | 5. The ATHLETE.

l2 | 5. Contend lawfully.

k3 | 6. The HUSBANDMAN.

l3 | 7. Labour; more fruit.

C2 | 8, 9. I suffer evil (kakopatheo). |

i2 | 8. My gospel.

j2 | 9. Suffering unto bonds.

C3 | 9, 10. I endure (hupomeno). |

i3 | 9. The Word of God.

j3 | 10. Endurance for elect.

C4 | 11-13. If we endure (hupomeno).  R E I G N. |

i4 | 11. The faithful WORD.

j4 | 13. The faithful LORD.

k4 | 11. If we died . . . live.

l4 | 12. If we endure . . . reign.

l4 | 12. If we deny . . . deny us.

k4 | 13. If we faithless . . . He faithful.

It will be observed that the fourfold reference to suffering, or enduring, is related to a

fourfold reference to the ministry of the Apostle:--

Suffering for its own sake is to be avoided: it may be merely an exhibition of morbid

and debased feelings. Suffering that comes upon us because of our own folly and

misdeeds must be borne patiently and with penitence, but suffering that comes upon us

because of the truth we hold and teach, should be a matter of rejoicing, not only for the

honour put upon us to be counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of the Lord, but

because there is associated with this present suffering the crown and the prize.

In introducing this aspect of his teaching to Timothy the Apostle uses three figures,

(1) The Soldier, (2) The Athlete, (3) The Husbandman.  These are, as it were, the

premises of his argument, and if we have unscriptural views as to these, we shall also

have them in our conclusions.

Take the first figure, the Soldier. What we immediately associate with the profession

of the soldier is fighting, but we look in vain in II Tim. 2: 3, 4 for reference to fighting

qualities or fighting prowess, the Apostle's use of the word being restricted to the