The Hardship Of Waiting

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3

Kakopatheo is the Greek word used here as 'endure hardship' and the notes on it say that it is frequently used for the hardships of military service. Scrolling through the translations of the Bible on the ol' BLB*, some of the newer ones tend to add in the sharing part, while the King James and the NKJV are more individualized. As Paul is writing this second personal letter directly to Timothy, the former makes more sense. However, as a military veteran I also understand the sharing of those hardships together with fellow members of a unit or group. So, yes to both translations as the hardship is both individual and together. Hardship doesn't sound like much fun though.

When we mention hardship, our first vision of military hardship might be of the sweat-dripping private in full forced march mode, draped in body armor with a 60-pound pack and the platoon sergeant's dog Fido perched on top of that pack. The private is toting his rifle and dreaming of using it on poor Fido. While some of that does happen, Fido being a notable exception, much of the hardship comes from waiting. While in the military, one waits in line for many things, waits for classes, waits for formations, waits for someone upstairs to show up with orders (to put it politely), and in combat, spends a lot of time waiting for something to happen or not happen. And it does bear a certain similarity to the return of our Lord Jesus. At times we may preach, sing, pray, testify, and study the word, much of the time we are also waiting for His return.

So, you and me and the Spirit of our Lord, let us endure together the hardship of waiting for the Lord's return!

Bucky

* the website: blueletterbible.org