When I was younger (around the age when I had to register for the Selective Service, in case the U.S. restarted the draft), I remember the Army’s slogan of “Be All That You Can Be”. (I might still have a CD-ROM in my basement from their recruiting efforts as I graduated from high school.) Wikipedia lists other army slogans over the years, and apparently “Be All You Can Be” is back.
Recruiting slogans tend to be inspirational, motivating, and positive, since they help drive the success of bringing people into a group (in this case, military service).
In that light, let’s see what the apostle Paul wrote to an evangelist named Timothy, centuries ago:
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:3 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ti.2.3.NIV
If we heard this verse and didn’t know that it was from the Bible, we might call it one of the worst recruiting slogans ever, or something meant only for masochists! However, this verse doesn’t stand on its own: it’s a part of a larger letter, and therefore we must consider the context.
Earlier articles looking at 2 Timothy considered a choice that Paul presented to Timothy, and which each of us also gets to decide for ourselves. That is, we can be ashamed of Jesus and those who give their lives over to Him completely, or we can stand for the truth but suffer for it when necessary. In the end, the truth – not just “a truth”, but “The Truth”, Jesus Christ – is far better than anyone or anything else that we could hitch our wagons to. Some temporary suffering in this life is worth it, in exchange for not only a life with God (and the blessings that come with that), but also getting to be part of God’s great, wise, and loving plan for humanity.
Back to the present, although there were some rough times when U.S. soldiers returned home from conflicts in Asia during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, I feel like my country’s armed services personnel are generally respected and treated well by others today. As a result, while no military is perfect (being made up of human beings like us), I can envision the concept of a “good soldier”, as Paul talked about here. War is ugly and any loss of life is a reminder of the deadly consequences of sin, but there are those who serve honorably for a good cause, and they can teach us something about Paul’s message.
To understand what a “good soldier” might look like in Paul’s mind (and the suffering that results from being a “good soldier of Christ Jesus”), consider what those in even an all-volunteer military go through. At least in the United States, armed services personnel put up with plenty of difficulties that someone like me with an office job doesn’t have to deal with, like:
- Physical danger: sometimes turning into injury, permanent harm, or death
- Deployments: living away from family, often in a strange land
- Regular relocations
- Living in less-than ideal situations
- Having to keep certain knowledge from loved ones
The goal for our soldiers, though, is to do their job and return home, where their work should be acknowledged and appreciated. In the same way, if we expect to serve in the kingdom of God, we may need to put up with some of the same kinds of difficulties, but we look forward to not only spending eternity with God where He dwells, but also ensuring that – with God’s help – our “mission” (helping others find the same joy) will be a success.
Serving Jesus isn’t all “cupcakes and rainbows”, but – in the long run – there is a far greater weight of good than their is suffering. We live in a broken world where suffering is endemic, I’m afraid, but Jesus offers hope and a future for all accept Him.
So, taken on its own, this one verse doesn’t seem very inspiring, but in the larger picture, it serves to show that following Jesus is so great that suffering, which comes with the blessing, is more than worth the cost of enduring it. Even if our suffering seems like a lot while we’re on this earth (and I’m not minimizing the enormity of challenges that some face, because those are real and they are painful), it is reasonable to endure in comparison to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ (see Philippians 3:7-11).
Over the next few articles, let’s look at 3 examples that Paul offers to Timothy for how to join with him in this mission, as further described in 2 Timothy 2:4-6.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 23, 2025
References:
- 1717 Bible Studies, 2 Timothy, © 2025 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1, 2 Timothy & Titus, by C. Michael Moss. © 1994 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 