2 Timothy 2:6

Contextual Overview

¹You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ¹ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ¹ You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ¹You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ¹ Listen Timothy, you are like a son to me and you must be strong in the grace that is found in Christ Jesus. ¹ So then, my child, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. ¹ Thou therefore, my child, be strong in the grace which [is] in Christ Jesus. ¹ You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ¹ You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ¹ Thou therefore, my son, be strong through the grace which is by Jesus Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

husbandman: Isaiah 28:24-26, Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Matthew 20:1, Matthew 21:33-41, Luke 10:2, John 4:35-38, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, 1 Corinthians 9:7-11

that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits: or, labouring first, must be partaker of the fruits, 1 Corinthians 9:23, Hebrews 10:36

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 3:9 - fear Matthew 25:16 - went Luke 10:7 - for 1 Corinthians 9:10 - that ploweth 2 Corinthians 2:17 - which 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - labour 1 Timothy 5:17 - labour

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The husbandman that laboureth,.... In manuring his ground, in ploughing, in sowing, in weeding, in reaping, c.

must be first partaker of the fruits of his labour, before others; and the design may be to observe that the ministers of the word ought first to be partakers of the grace of God, the fruits of the Spirit, and of the Gospel, and rightly and spiritually understand it, before they preach it to others; or that such who labour in the word and doctrine, ought in the first place to be taken care of, and have a sufficient maintenance provided for them, 1 Corinthians 9:7 or that as they shall have in the first place some seals and fruits of their ministry, in the conversion of souls, so they shall shine in the kingdom of heaven as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever. Though the words may be rendered, and which seems more agreeable to the context, and to the apostle's argument, "the husbandman must first labour before he partakes of the fruits"; so a minister of the Gospel must first labour, and endure hardships in this life, before he sits down in the kingdom of heaven, and takes his rest, and enjoys the crown of glory, which fades not away, which the chief Shepherd shall give unto him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The husbandman that laboureth - The margin is, “labouring first, must be partaker.” The idea, according to the translation in the text, is, that there is a fitness or propriety (δει dei) that the man who cultivates the earth, should enjoy the fruits of his labor. See the same image explained in the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:10. But if this be the meaning here, it is not easy to see why the apostle introduces it. According to the marginal reading, the word “first” is introduced in connection with the word “labour” - “labouring first, must be partaker.” That is, it is a great law that the husbandman must work before be receives a harvest. This sense will accord with the purpose of the apostle. It was to remind Timothy that labor must precede reward; that if a man would reap, he must sow; that he could hope for no fruits, unless he toiled for them. The point was not that the husbandman would be the first one who would partake of the fruits; but that he must first labor before he obtained the reward. Thus understood, this would be an encouragement to Timothy to persevere in his toils, looking onward to the reward. The Greek will bear this construction, though it is not the most obvious one.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 6. The husbandman that laboureth — That is: The husbandman must first till his ground before he can expect a crop; and he must till it according to the proper rules of agriculture, else he cannot have a crop. The combatant must fight and conquer, and fight according to the laws of the agones, before he can be crowned; so the Christian minister must labour in the spiritual vineyard, and labour too under the eye and according to the direction of his Master, before he can expect that crown of righteousness that fadeth not away.