2 Timothy 2:3 Endure Hardness

2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy in a time when the church was facing tremendous persecution by the Roman emperor Nero. Behind it all, the spiritual battle between light and darkness.

The word “endure hardness” means “meeting hardship courageously”. It is in the imperative, a command that describes an action not started. What is this hardship? It is something bad, vile, foul and wicked. And this suffering has more to do with mental suffering than physical suffering.

Timothy needs to brace himself, to be strengthened, to not fear, but to lay hold of Christ’s power to overcome. Amen.