2 Timothy 2:6 kjv
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2 Timothy 2:6 nkjv
The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:6 niv
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:6 esv
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:6 nlt
And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.
2 Timothy 2 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 126:5-6 | Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! ...bring his sheaves with him. | Sowing and reaping; reward for patient labor. |
| Prov 10:4 | A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. | Diligence brings prosperity. |
| Prov 12:11 | Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. | Working land leads to sustenance. |
| Prov 13:4 | The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. | Contrast of diligence vs. laziness in reward. |
| Prov 14:23 | In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. | Profit comes from labor. |
| Matt 9:37-38 | "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest..." | Metaphor of spiritual harvest and laborers. |
| Matt 10:10 | "...for the laborer deserves his food." | Laborer worthy of his sustenance. |
| Lk 10:7 | "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | Laborer worthy of his wages/support. |
| Jn 4:35-38 | One sows and another reaps... I sent you to reap that for which you did not toil. | Shared labor and shared reward in spiritual harvest. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-9 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth... we are God's fellow workers. | God is the source of growth in ministry. |
| 1 Cor 3:8 | He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own wages according to his labor. | Reward according to one's labor. |
| 1 Cor 9:7 | Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? | Right to enjoy the fruits of one's labor. |
| 1 Cor 9:11 | If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? | Spiritual labor merits material support. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple... the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. | Priestly provision as an example for gospel ministers. |
| Gal 6:6 | Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. | Sharing resources with those who teach. |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. | Enduring labor promises future reward. |
| 1 Thess 5:12-13 | We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you... | Respect for diligent leaders/laborers. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching... "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." | Double honor and wages for dedicated leaders/teachers. |
| Heb 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name... | God justly rewards work done in love. |
| Jas 5:7 | Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. | Patience of a farmer for harvest. |
| Rev 14:13 | "...their deeds follow them!" | Works accompanying believers to judgment. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." | Christ's return brings reward for deeds. |
2 Timothy 2 verses
2 Timothy 2 6 Meaning
The verse states a foundational principle of fairness and divine justice: just as a farmer who invests strenuous, consistent labor in the field is rightfully entitled to partake of the harvest first, so too those who diligently toil in the work of God deserve to receive the spiritual blessings and necessary temporal provision that result from their efforts. It underscores that faithful service merits fitting recompense and acknowledgment.
2 Timothy 2 6 Context
This verse is the third of three powerful analogies Paul uses in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 to encourage Timothy, and by extension, all ministers of the Gospel, regarding the nature of Christian service and discipleship. Preceding it are the metaphors of a good soldier (v. 3-4), highlighting focus and endurance, and a disciplined athlete (v. 5), emphasizing adherence to divine rules for legitimate victory. The "farmer" analogy completes this trilogy, stressing diligent effort, patience, and the expectation of reward for honest toil. Historically, farming was a universally understood occupation, and the principle that one who diligently cultivated the land deserved to enjoy its produce was a common expectation in ancient societies, reflecting basic justice. Paul draws upon this culturally intuitive truth to illustrate a spiritual reality concerning ministry. The verse subtly counters any notion of obtaining spiritual fruit without effort, or that spiritual labor would be left unrewarded, emphasizing the justice and order in God's kingdom.
2 Timothy 2 6 Word analysis
- The hard-working (ὁ κοπιῶν - ho kopiōn): This Greek word kopiōn (from kopiao) signifies not merely work, but arduous, strenuous, often exhaustive toil. It implies putting forth great effort, laboring to the point of fatigue, or "wearing oneself out" for the task. It's the same word Paul often used to describe his own intense labor for the gospel (e.g., Rom 16:12, 1 Cor 15:10, Col 1:29), emphasizing the immense dedication and effort required in ministry.
- farmer (γεωργὸς - geōrgos): Literally, "earth-worker" or "cultivator." This individual performs physical labor, shows patience, depends on God for elements like rain and sunshine, and waits for a harvest. This metaphor highlights sustained effort, practical application, and dependence on divine provision for growth, contrasting with quick or superficial engagements.
- ought to be (δεῖ - dei): This Greek verb indicates a divine necessity or moral obligation; it "must" be. It's not a suggestion or preference but a foundational truth, a divinely established principle of equity and justice that cannot be gainsaid. The reward is a necessary and rightful consequence of the labor.
- the first (πρῶτον - prōton): This does not necessarily imply exclusivity, but priority or precedence. The diligent farmer has the initial, most direct, and primary right to partake of the produce that he painstakingly labored for. In a spiritual sense, it underscores the immediate and assured reward or privilege that belongs to those who actively and sacrificially serve in God's kingdom, before anyone else benefits from that specific harvest.
- to receive a share (μεταλαμβάνειν - metalambanein): This verb means "to partake of," "to have a share in," or "to participate in." It suggests receiving a due portion or benefiting from something earned. It conveys the idea of legitimate enjoyment and beneficial outcome resulting from one's investment.
- of the crops (τῶν καρπῶν - tōn karpōn): "Fruits," "produce," or "harvest." While literally referring to agricultural yield, spiritually it represents the positive outcomes, spiritual blessings, eternal rewards, and temporal provisions that flow from dedicated ministry. It signifies the tangible results and benefits of the arduous spiritual labor.
- "The hard-working farmer": This phrase highlights the nature of the worker: diligent, persevering, and patient. The reward is tied not to passive existence, but to active, exhausting service. It points to a long-term investment, unlike the fleeting victory of the athlete or immediate battlefield of the soldier.
- "ought to be the first to receive a share of the crops": This forms the core principle. It affirms a divine standard of fairness and natural consequence. The farmer's claim to the fruit of his labor is natural and just, providing a powerful parallel for the spiritual realm where God ensures that genuine labor for His kingdom will be both honored and supplied.
2 Timothy 2 6 Bonus section
The three metaphors in 2 Timothy 2 (soldier, athlete, farmer) are carefully chosen by Paul, building on each other. While the soldier emphasizes focused discipline and allegiance, and the athlete speaks to adhering to rules for victory, the farmer specifically addresses the theme of sustained, diligent effort, patience, and the natural, inherent reward for that labor. Unlike the soldier who might receive a wage, or the athlete a perishable crown, the farmer's reward is literally the direct output of his personal toil on the land. This makes the farmer metaphor particularly potent for understanding how spiritual workers receive direct "fruit" from their ministry, encompassing both tangible provisions and the immeasurable joy of seeing lives transformed through their arduous labor. It underscores that God honors legitimate, painstaking work in His kingdom, ensuring His servants are justly compensated and encouraged.
2 Timothy 2 6 Commentary
Paul’s use of the "hard-working farmer" analogy serves as a profound lesson for Timothy and all who serve God. The imagery conveys the essence of consistent, patient, and strenuous effort that precedes any harvest. Just as the farmer endures the sweat and toil, the elements, and the long wait before seeing the fruit of his labor, so too the minister must persevere through challenges, waiting patiently for spiritual fruit, trusting in God's timing and sustenance. The crucial point "ought to be the first to receive a share of the crops" underlines a fundamental principle of justice. This means that those who dedicate their lives to spiritual labor are entitled, both by divine principle and human justice, to partake first of the blessings that flow from their ministry. This can refer to spiritual joy, transformed lives, God's provision for their temporal needs (as emphasized elsewhere regarding support for ministers), and ultimately, eternal rewards. The metaphor encourages diligence by guaranteeing fair return for expended effort and reminds the church to support those who nourish them spiritually.