At bible study a few weeks ago we were finishing looking at 2 Timothy. We were having some solo time to go over the book and see what we could summarise from it. Sadly, I missed about half of the studies from 2 Timothy and only got to the end of chapter 2 when I was summarising.
In order to try to get my head around what chapter 2 was talking about I did some sketches, or doodles.
They don’t really illustrate what the passage is about at all, but at the time they helped me try to focus on the images and words.
I thought that perhaps verses 3–6,
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
might somehow relate to verses 11-13,
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself
Soldiers die suffer and may die, denying Christ would really not be playing according the the rules if we wish to inherit eternal life and whether it is us, Christ, the Holy Spirit, who works hard — someone will get the first share of the crops. Whatever those crops are!
I might be way off base with all of that, but I think the main point of 2 Timothy 2 is that we should be prepared to suffer and ready for every good work, that we might be useful to God for the calling of the elect.
LaurenMarie - Creative Curio says
Sounds like you did some solid meditating on 2 Tim. 2. I like the parallel you drew between vv. 3-6 and vv. 11-13. It makes sense to me, even if that’s not exactly what Paul intended.
I sure love hearing what others from all over are learning about Christ; it makes the world seem just a little bit smaller and God a whole lot bigger 🙂
Armen says
Sketching symbolic themes from passages of scripture…interesting, and quite original.
I like it!
kristarella says
Lauren, glad it made sense to you! Just being on the net, blogging, twittering, makes the whole world seem more accessible. It’s very good to know there are more people out there trying to glorify Jesus. 🙂
Thanks Armen!
Jeff says
That is really helpful and meaningful. Great idea.