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2 Timothy 2:6

2 Timothy 2:6 in Multiple Translations

The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.

It is right for the worker in the fields to be the first to take of the fruit.

The farmer that does all the hard work should be the first to benefit from the crop.

The husbandman must labour before he receiue the fruites.

the labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake;

The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.

The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.

The husbandman, that laboureth, must first partake of the fruits.

You also know that a hard-working farmer should be the first to receive some of the harvest [MET]. So, like farmers, work hard for Christ Jesus and expect that God will reward you!

And I will use another picture story, about a gardener. He works hard, and then he is the first person to eat the food he grows in the garden. Well, like that gardener, if you work hard for God, he will quickly pay you.

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Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Timothy 2:6

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2 Timothy 2:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK τον κοπιωντα γεωργον δει πρωτον των καρπων μεταλαμβανειν
τον ho G3588 the/this/who Art-ASM
κοπιωντα kopiaō G2872 to labor Verb-PAP-ASM
γεωργον geōrgos G1092 farmer Noun-ASM
δει dei G1163 be necessary Verb-PAI-3S
πρωτον prōton G4412 first Adv-S
των ho G3588 the/this/who Art-GPM
καρπων karpos G2590 fruit Noun-GPM
μεταλαμβανειν metalambanō G3335 to partake Verb-PAN
Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — 2 Timothy 2:6

τον ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-ASM
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
κοπιωντα kopiaō G2872 "to labor" Verb-PAP-ASM
To labor or work hard, often feeling tired or weary, as seen in Matthew 11:28 and John 4:6.
Definition: κοπιάω, -ῶ (κόπος), [in LXX chiefly for יָגַע ;] __1. (as in cl.) to grow weary: Mat.11:28, Jhn.4:6, Rev.2:3 (cf. Isa.40:31). __2. Hence, in LXX and NT, to work with effort, to toil: absol., Mat.6:23, Luk.5:5 12:27, Jhn.4:38, Act.20:35, 1Co.4:12, Eph.4:28, 2Ti.2:5; with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.4:38; frequently in Paul. Epp., of ministerial labour: 1Co.15:10 16:16; before ἐν, Rom.16:12, 1Th.5:12 (see M, Th., in l), 1Ti.5:17; εἰς, Rom.16:6, Gal.4:11, Php.2:16, Col.1:29, 1Ti.4:10.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 21 NT verses. KJV: (bestow) labour, toil, be wearied See also: 1 Corinthians 4:12; Galatians 4:11; Revelation 2:3.
γεωργον geōrgos G1092 "farmer" Noun-ASM
This word means a farmer or a person who works with the land. It is used in the Bible to describe people who grow crops, like in 2 Timothy 2:6. It can also be used to describe God as a farmer, like in Matthew 21:33-35.
Definition: γεωργός, -οῦ, ὁ (γῆ, ἔργω = ἔρδω, to do), [in LXX for אִכָּר, etc. ;] __1. a husbandman: 2Ti.2:6, Jas.5:7. __2. a vine-dresser (cf. ἀμπελουργός, Luk.13:7): Mat.21:33-35, 38, 40, 41, Mrk.12:1, 2 7, 9, Luk.20:9, 10 14, 16, Jhn.15:1.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 17 NT verses. KJV: husbandman See also: 2 Timothy 2:6; Mark 12:2; James 5:7.
δει dei G1163 "be necessary" Verb-PAI-3S
This means it is necessary or must be done, like when Jesus said it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem in Matthew 16:21.
Definition: δεῖ impersonal (δέω), [in LXX chiefly for infin. with לְ ;] one must, it is necessary: with inf., Mat.26:54, Mrk.13:7, Act.5:29, al.; with accusative and inf., Mat.16:21, Mrk.8:31, Jhn.3:7, Act.25:10, al.; with ellipse of accusative, Mat.23:23; of accusative, and inf., Mrk.13:14, Rom.1:27 8:26; οὐ (μὴ) δεῖ (non licet), ought not, must not: Act.25:24, 2Ti.2:24; impf., ἔδει, of necessity or obligation in past time regarding a past event (Bl., § 63, 4), Mat.18:33, Luk.15:32, Jhn.4:4, Act.27:21, al.; periphr., δέον ἐστίν (as in Attic, χρεών ἐστι = χρή, see: δέον), Act.19:36; id., with ellipse of ἐστίν, 1Pe.1:6 τὰ μὴ δέοντα (= ἃ οὐ δεῖ 1Ti.5:13. SYN.: ὀφείλει, expressing moral obligation, as distinct from δεῖ, denoting logical necessity and χρή, a need which results from the fitness of things (see Tr., Syn., § cvii, 10; Westc. on Heb.2:1, 1Jn.2:6; Hort on Jas.3:10). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 103 NT verses. KJV: behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need(-ful), ought, should See also: 1 Corinthians 8:2; John 4:20; 1 Peter 1:6.
πρωτον prōton G4412 "first" Adv-S
The word for first in time, place, or importance, used in Ephesians 4:22 and John 7:50. It can also mean before or formerly, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:15 and Hebrews 4:6.
Definition: πρῶτον, πρῶτος, see: πρότερος A. Compar., πρότερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX for רִאשׁוֹן ,לִפָנִים, etc. ;] before, of time, place, rank, etc.; in NT always of Time, before, former: Eph.4:22. Adverbially, πρότερον, before, aforetime, formerly: Jhn.7:50, 2Co.1:15, Heb.4:6; opposite to ἔπειτα, Heb.7:27; τὸ π., Jhn.6:62 9:8, Gal.4:13, 1Ti.1:13; αἱ π. ἡμέραι, Heb.10:32; αἱ π. ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.1:14.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 60 NT verses. KJV: before, at the beginning, chiefly (at, at the) first (of all) See also: 1 Corinthians 11:18; Luke 10:5; 1 Peter 4:17.
των ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-GPM
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
καρπων karpos G2590 "fruit" Noun-GPM
Fruit refers to the product of something, like a tree or a person's actions, as in Matthew 12:33 and 21:19. It can be literal or figurative, representing the results of our labor.
Definition: καρπός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for פְּרִי ;] fruit: of trees, Mat.12:33 21:19, Mrk.11:14, Luk.6:44 13:6-7; of vines, Mat.21:34, Mrk.12:2, Luk.20:10, 1Co.9:7; of fields, Mrk.4:29, Luk.12:17, 2Ti.2:6, Jas.5:7; βλαστάνειν, Jas.5:18; ποιεῖν (cf. Heb. פְּרִי עָשָׂה), Mat.3:10 7:17-19 13:26, Luk.3:9 6:43 8:8 13:9, Rev.22:2; διδόναι, Mat.13:8, Mrk.4:7-8; φέρειν, Mat.7:18, Jhn.12:24 15:2, 4-5 15:8, 16; ἀποδιδόναι, Mat.21:41, Rev.22:2; ὁ κ. τ. κοιλίας (בֶּטֶן פְּרִי, Deu.28:4), Luk.1:42; τ. ὀσφύος (Gen.30:2, al.), Act.2:30. Metaphorical, __(a) of works, deeds: Mat.3:8 7:16, 20 21:43, Luk.3:8, Jhn.15:3, 16; τ. πνεύματος, Gal.5:22; τ. φωτός, Eph.5:9; τ. δικαιοσύνης, Php.1:11; σφραγίζεσθαι τὸν κ. (Deiss., BS, 238 f.), Rom.15:28; κ. ἀγαθοί, Jas.3:17; __(b) of advantage, profit: Php.1:22 4:17; ἔχειν, Rom.1:13 6:21-22. συνάγειν, Jhn.4:36; κ. τ. δικαιοσύνης, Heb.12:11, Jas.3:18; of praise, καρπὸν χειλέων (Hos.14:2, al.; cf. Æsch., Eum., 830): Heb.13:15.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 56 NT verses. KJV: fruit See also: 1 Corinthians 9:7; Luke 20:10; Hebrews 12:11.
μεταλαμβανειν metalambanō G3335 "to partake" Verb-PAN
To partake means to take or receive a share of something, like food or an experience. In Acts 2:46, it describes the early Christians eating together. It's about participating or sharing in something.
Definition: μετα-λαμξάνω [in LXX: Est.5:1, Wis.18:9; 4Ma.12:1-19 * ;] to have or get a share of, partake of: with genitive of thing(s), 2Ti.2:6, Heb.6:7 12:10; τροφῆς, Act.2:46 27:33-34; with accusative of thing(s) (of the whole), to get: καιρόν, Act.24:25 (see Bl., § 36, 1; MM, xvi).† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 6 NT verses. KJV: eat, have, be partaker, receive, take See also: 2 Timothy 2:6; Acts 27:33; Hebrews 6:7.

Study Notes — 2 Timothy 2:6

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
2 1 Corinthians 9:7–11 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk? Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
3 1 Corinthians 3:6–9 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
4 1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
5 John 4:35–38 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”
6 Luke 10:2 And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.
7 Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
8 Matthew 9:37–38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
9 Matthew 21:33–41 Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?” “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”
10 Isaiah 28:24–26 Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, and rye within its border. For his God instructs and teaches him properly.

2 Timothy 2:6 Summary

This verse reminds us that hard work and dedication will be rewarded, and that we should trust in God's provision and timing. Just like a farmer who plants and harvests crops, we can expect to reap what we sow, as seen in Galatians 6:7-8. By being faithful and diligent in our labor, we can trust that God will provide for us and give us the strength to persevere, as promised in Isaiah 40:31 and Matthew 25:14-30.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean for a farmer to be the first to partake of the crops?

This phrase suggests that the farmer's hard work and dedication to their labor should be rewarded, and they should be the first to enjoy the fruits of their labor, as seen in Deuteronomy 25:4 and 1 Corinthians 9:7-10.

Is this verse only talking about physical farming?

While the verse uses the example of a farmer, the principle applies to all kinds of hard work and ministry, as seen in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 and Galatians 6:9, where spiritual labor is compared to farming.

How does this verse relate to my own life and work?

As a follower of Christ, you are called to be a faithful steward of the gifts and resources God has given you, and to trust that your hard work will be rewarded, as promised in Genesis 39:5 and Proverbs 22:29.

What is the significance of the farmer being 'hardworking'?

The emphasis on the farmer being hardworking highlights the importance of diligence and perseverance in our labor, as encouraged in Colossians 3:23-24 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways can I apply the principle of being a 'hardworking farmer' to my own life and ministry?
  2. How can I trust God to provide for me and reward my labor, even when the results are not immediate or visible?
  3. What are some ways I can 'partake of the crops' and enjoy the fruits of my labor, while still trusting in God's provision and sovereignty?
  4. How can I balance my desire for reward and recognition with the need to trust in God's timing and provision, as seen in Psalm 37:3-7 and Isaiah 40:31?

Gill's Exposition on 2 Timothy 2:6

The husbandman that laboureth,.... In manuring his ground, in ploughing, in sowing, in weeding, in reaping, c.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Timothy 2:6

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Must be first (before all others) partaker.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:6

As the apostle had before compared the minister of the gospel to a soldier, and from thence concluded his duty not to entangle himself unnecessarily in secular employments; and to those that exercised themselves in their public games, and from thence concluded the obligation upon him to keep to the Divine rule in the management of his office, and of himself under the opposition he should meet with; so here he compares him to a husbandman, (as Christ himself had done, , &c.), either to mind him of his duty, first to look to save his own soul, then the souls of others, or of his advantage, it being the privilege of a husbandman, being the proprietor of the fruits, (if he will), first to eat thereof, thereby intimating the privilege of those who turn many to righteousness, .

Trapp's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:6

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Ver. 6. The husbandman labouring first] Spes alit agricolas. Nae illi falsi sunt (saith Salhst, in Jugur.) qui diversissimas res expectant, ignaviae voluptatem, et praemia virtutis. They are utterly out, that think to have the pleasure of sloth and the guerdon of goodness. A reward, requital, or recompence. ŒD

Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:6

(6) The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.—Again the picture is painted from every-day life. “The husbandman that laboureth”—with an emphasis upon “that laboureth”—is the successful tiller of the ground; “the labouring husbandman” it is, for whom the earth brings forth her increase. It is the enduring, patient, self-sacrificing toil that is rewarded in the affairs of common life—the man that “endures hardness,” whether as a soldier, or athlete, or tiller of the ground, wins the reward; and as in the world, so in religion. Further on in the Epistle the Apostle speaks of his having won the crown of righteousness. He had endured hardness of every conceivable kind; every affliction for the Lord’s sake he had endured save death, and that he was expecting, and knew it could not long tarry. The teaching of St. Paul in this triple picture is—not every soldier wins its commander’s applause, but only the veteran who devotes himself heart and soul to his profession; not every athlete wins the crown or prize, but only he who trains with anxious, painful care; not every tiller of the ground gathers the earth’s fruits, but only the patient toiler. So must it be in religious life. It is not enough to say we are Christians, or even to wish to be of the brotherhood of Christ. Men must really live the life they say they love.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:6

Verse 6. The husbandman that laboureth] That is: The husbandman must first till his ground before he can expect a crop; and he must till it according to the proper rules of agriculture, else he cannot have a crop. The combatant must fight and conquer, and fight according to the laws of the agones, before he can be crowned; so the Christian minister must labour in the spiritual vineyard, and labour too under the eye and according to the direction of his Master, before he can expect that crown of righteousness that fadeth not away.

Cambridge Bible on 2 Timothy 2:6

6. The husbandman that laboureth] This third illustration is well known from St Paul’s use, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, where the substantive corresponding to ‘farmer’ or ‘husbandman’ occurs. ‘Ye are God’s husbandry’; lit., ‘God’s farmed, tilled, land.’ The stress of meaning lies on the participle ‘that laboureth’ and we must give the old full sense to the English word; as the Vulgate putting the participle in the emphatic first place in the sentence ‘laborantem agricolam oportet primum de fructibus percipere.’ See the bearing of the same word, 1 Timothy 4:10, and especially 1 Timothy 5:17 where see note. It is true, as the Wise man says, ‘the profit of the earth is for all,’ Ecclesiastes 5:9, and the laziest vagabond can claim from the Poor-law his ‘right to live.’ But the husbandman who has ‘toiled with honest sweat,’ putting sinews, brains, and conscience into his work, must be the first to partake of the fruits, as the R.V. rightly renders, more clearly shewing the point. If the Christian knight wishes for any prize worth having, the farmer’s, as well as the athlete’s and the soldier’s life, will say ‘no pains no gains’:‘For more of wisdom, health, or wealth,We’ll trust and labour on;They come to neither life by stealth,No cross no crown.’

Barnes' Notes on 2 Timothy 2:6

The husbandman that laboureth - The margin is, “labouring first, must be partaker.” The idea, according to the translation in the text, is, that there is a fitness or propriety (δει dei) that the man

Whedon's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:6

6. First—Many commentators think that St. Paul’s first should be so placed as to qualify laboureth, and so should mean that there must first be labour before there can be enjoyment of fruits.

Sermons on 2 Timothy 2:6

SermonDescription
Carter Conlon The Glory of God in Awful Places by Carter Conlon In this sermon, the pastor uses a metaphor of a captain and a first mate to illustrate how God uses difficult circumstances to shape and prepare His people. The pastor explains tha
Zac Poonen (Proverbs) ch.28:19 - 29:17 by Zac Poonen In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of discipline in our daily lives, even in our interactions with others. He highlights Proverbs 28:20, which warns against the
Zac Poonen New Covenant - Superior to the Law - Part 4 by Zac Poonen This sermon emphasizes the importance of diligently seeking God and working hard in the spiritual journey, drawing parallels to the effort people put into achieving worldly goals.
J.C. Philpot The Sons of God—their Blessings and Their Privileges by J.C. Philpot The preacher emphasizes the importance of hard work and diligence in the Christian life, using the Greek word 'kopiao' to describe intense toil and exertion, even to the point of e
Hans R. Waldvogel I Corinthians 4 (Judging, Being Judged, and the Marks of a Spiritual Minister) by Hans R. Waldvogel Hans R. Waldvogel emphasizes the role of a spiritual minister as one who must first partake of the fruits of their labor, illustrating that true ministry requires personal experien
Horatius Bonar Lies the Food of Man. by Horatius Bonar The preacher delves into the concept of the hardworking farmer as described in the Bible, emphasizing the patience, diligence, and discipline required in spiritual work, drawing pa
Leonard Ravenhill Heroes in Hebrews by Leonard Ravenhill In this sermon, the speaker discusses the journey of Abraham and his son Isaac. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obedience and faith in God's promises. Abraham and Isaac em

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