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endure: 2 Timothy 2:10, 2 Timothy 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 4:5, 1 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 1:6, Hebrews 6:15, Hebrews 10:32, Hebrews 11:27, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 12:3, James 1:12

a good: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:11-18, 1 Timothy 1:18

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:23 - to perform the service Numbers 8:24 - wait upon Numbers 16:5 - even him Joshua 10:9 - all night Judges 3:2 - might know 2 Samuel 11:11 - my lord 1 Chronicles 26:6 - mighty men of valour Nehemiah 4:17 - with one Proverbs 27:17 - so Jeremiah 13:5 - as Luke 9:60 - but Luke 10:2 - the labourers Acts 23:31 - as 1 Corinthians 9:7 - goeth 1 Corinthians 16:13 - quit 2 Corinthians 10:4 - our Philippians 2:25 - fellowsoldier Philemon 1:2 - our fellowsoldier Hebrews 11:25 - Choosing Revelation 1:9 - companion

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.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ - Such hardships as a soldier is called to endure. The apostle supposes that a minister of the gospel might be called to endure hardships, and that it is reasonable that he should be as ready to do it as a soldier is. On the hardships which he endured himself, see the notes at 2 Corinthians 11:23-29. Soldiers often endure great privations. Taken from their homes and friends; exposed to cold, or heat, or storms, or fatiguing marches; sustained on coarse fare, or almost destitute of food, they are often compelled to endure as much as the human frame can bear, and often indeed, sink under their burdens, and die. If, for reward or their country’s sake, they are willing to do this, the soldier of the cross should be willing to do it for his Saviour’s sake, and for the good of the human race. Hence, let no man seek the office of the ministry as a place of ease. Let no one come into it merely to enjoy himself. Let no one enter it who is not prepared to lead a soldier’s life and to welcome hardship and trial as his portion. He would make a bad soldier, who, at his enlistment, should make it a condition that he should be permitted to sleep on a bed of down, and always be well clothed and fed, and never exposed to peril, or compelled to pursue a wearisome march. Yet do not some men enter the ministry, making these the conditions? And would they enter the ministry on any other terms?