13在二章三节保罗继续说,“你要和我同受苦难,好像基督耶稣的精兵。”使徒认为他们的职事乃是为着基督的争战,正如民数记四章二十三、三十、三十五节,把祭司的事奉看作服役,争战。每当我们将基督供应别人,就发觉自己是在争战。因此,我们不但该是将美好的托付交托别人的教师,也该是为着神的权益争战的精兵。……在提后二章五节保罗把提摩太比作竞赛中的运动员:“竞赛的人,非按规矩竞赛,就不能得华冠。”
13In 2:3 Paul continues, “Suffer evil with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” The apostle considered their ministry a warfare for Christ, just as the priestly service was considered a military service, a warfare, in Numbers 4:23, 30, 35 (lit.). Whenever we minister Christ to others, we find ourselves in a battle. Hence, we should not only be teachers committing the deposit to others, but we should also be soldiers fighting for God’s interests. In 2 Timothy 2:5 Paul likens Timothy to an athlete contending in the games: “And also if anyone contends in the games, he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully.”