WALDROP: Soldiers, athletes and farmers teach discipleship

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC
Published: August 14, 2008

The Apostle Paul instructs his student pastor, Timothy, how to teach discipleship to the congregation. Paul gives him three images to use, probably because no one image is right for everyone. Hopefully, all three will teach lessons that everyone can understand and practice in their daily lives. But, before he does that, Paul gives the very basis for discipleship (2 Tim. 2:1-7).
In calling Timothy his “son,” Paul means his “son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2), thus recognizing in their relationship, the friendship and authority Paul has with him and which Timothy also desires and values. It is the grace that good parents and teachers exercise with their children and students, but Paul points to Jesus as the ultimate source of this kind of grace.
While some translations have “be strong” (active voice) in the grace of Christ, the Greek has “be strengthened” or “empowered” by it (passive voice). This means that God’s strength is not something we actively work up within ourselves. God creates it within us and we receive it by relying upon Christ (v.1 CEV).
One of the ways God does this is through the teaching that Paul now instructs Timothy to pass on to others who will also pass it on; that is, these three images of discipleship will soon be known throughout the congregation. If you were in Timothy’s church the Sunday morning he introduced them, or in his evening training sessions, what would you learn about your discipleship?
First, Paul says, “Take your part in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (v.3). We err when we read too much, or too little, into this verse’s military imagery and the appropriate amount is elusive. It is like the hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers,” where the symbols of warfare are modified so that the church is “marching ‘as to’ war,” not literally. It is “ ‘like’ a mighty army” and the warlike weapon is “the cross of Jesus.” Moreover, Paul once described in detail the Roman soldier’s combat uniform, drawing spiritual meaning from each part.
The recruiting officer and commander, is Jesus, not Caesar. But, allegiance to him is the same: total. But so are the consequences: suffering. Additionally, like any soldier during wartime, there are “civilian entanglements” to avoid lest we render ourselves ineffective for battle (v.4). Pleasing the commander by accepting the sacrifices of service is the highest honor for the “good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
Secondly, and especially pertinent today in light of the Beijing Olympics, is the image of the athlete (v.5). The Roman Olympics, founded in 776 B.C., continued into Paul’s day. He used athletic imagery often. He “fought the good fight”; “ran the good race”; practiced “shadow boxing”; “pummeled his body”; “strove for the crown, goal and prize”; “wrestled against spiritual forces”; and all this so that he would not be “disqualified” by either the Olympic “judge” or the Judge of the Universe. Here, he reminds Timothy to “compete by the rules” in daily discipleship as an example to the congregation.
Thirdly, Paul says that, “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops,” (v.6). This image reminds us that many different systems operate for the farmer: weather, soil, seed, vegetation, etc. If one system is out of sync with the others, a healthy crop can be threatened. The good farmer knows that God makes all these things work together. Yet, according to Paul, the faithful, hardworking farmer deserves to be the first one to sit down at the table when the crop is harvested.
The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 540-332-8004 or email him at .