Fathers

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What the Fathers say

2 Timothy 2:3

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Oh, how great a dignity is this, to be a soldier of Jesus Christ! Observe the kings on earth, how great an honor it is esteemed to serve under them. If therefore the soldier of the king ought to endure hardness, not to endure hardness is not the part of any soldier. So that it behooves thee not to complain, if thou endurest hardness, for that is the part of a soldier; but to complain, if thou dost not endure hardness.

Homily on 2 Timothy 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Do you see that enduring sufferings is characteristic of a soldier? Therefore, not enduring sufferings is unworthy of a soldier. Consequently, one should not grieve if someone suffers while being placed in the ranks of soldiers. What an honor it is to be a soldier of Christ, when some consider it important to be soldiers of an earthly king!

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Is it so great a thing to be a soldier of Christ? But the mark of a soldier is to endure hardship.

Commentary On 2 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

He says, therefore, labor as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. But there are three ways of being a soldier of Christ: first, inasmuch as he fights against sin: the life of man upon earth is a warfare (Job 7:1); all the days in which I am now in warfare, I expect until my change come (Job 14:14). …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗