2 Timothy 2:3

3 thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;

2 Timothy 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness
"Or afflictions"; as in ( 2 Timothy 4:5 ) . The same word is used there as here, and properly signifies, "suffer evil"; and means the evil of afflictions, as persecutions of every kind, loss of name and goods, scourging, imprisonment, and death itself, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel:

as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Captain of salvation, the Leader and Commander of the people, who are made a willing people in the day of his power; or when he raises his forces, and musters his armies, these are volunteers, who willingly enlist themselves into his service, and under his banners fight his battles; and such who manfully behave against sin, Satan, and the world, are his good soldiers; such are all true believers in Christ, and particularly the ministers of the word, whose ministry is a warfare, and who fight the good fight of faith; and besides the above enemies, which they have in common with other saints, have to do with teachers, who are wolves in sheep's clothing.

2 Timothy 2:3 In-Context

1 Thou, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that [is] in Christ Jesus,

2 and the things that thou didst hear from me through many witnesses, these things be committing to stedfast men, who shall be sufficient also others to teach;

3 thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;

4 no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please;

5 and if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully;