2 Timothy 2:6

c. THE EXAMPLE OF THE HUSBANDMAN

6. τὸν κοπιῶντα γεωργὸν δεῖ κ.τ.λ., the husbandman that laboureth must first, sc. before him who is lazy and careless, partake of the fruits. The emphatic word is κοπιῶντα; as in the preceding verse, the main thought is that labour, discipline, striving are the portion of him who would succeed in any enterprise, be he soldier or athlete or farmer; E cura quies. On κοπιᾷν cp. 1 Timothy 4:10. The fruits to which the apostolic labourer may look forward are not here specially in question; they are only fully to be reaped in the world to come (Matthew 5:12; Matthew 19:21). The verb μεταλαμβάνειν (cp. 1 Timothy 4:3) does not occur elsewhere in St Paul’s letters; but cp. Acts 27:33-34.