2 Timothy 2:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here, having pointed to a commonly known example, the Apostle also expresses that God has need of nothing. He speaks of the recompense for teaching.

As the farmer, he says, does not labor without profit, but enjoys the fruits of his labors before others, so it should be with the teacher.

Either he says this, or he speaks of the honor rendered to teachers. However, the latter supposition has no foundation. Otherwise, why does he speak not simply of a farmer, but of a laboring farmer?

And not simply of one laboring, but of one who has already labored? So that no one may complain about the delay of recompense, he says: you already receive recompense, or, in the very labor there is recompense.

St John Chrysostom says: “The example of the soldier and combatant applies to those under authority, but the example of the farmer applies to the teacher, who must be not only a soldier but also a farmer. The farmer does not care for himself, but for the fruits of the earth, and in its fruits he receives no small recompense for his labors.”

“So also the teacher, the pastor, does not labor in vain,” says blessed Theophylact, “but is himself the first to taste the fruits of his sweat. For God repays him abundantly. Lest someone become weary and show dissatisfaction because recompense is deferred to the future, the Apostle says: ‘In the very labor you already receive recompense. If nothing else, the benefit of souls is already a great gain for you.’ And see, the Apostle did not simply say ‘the worker,’ but ‘the laboring one,’ that is, not one who works lightly, but one who undertakes intense and sweaty labor.”

Concerning the understanding of all this and of the rest that pertains to pastorship, Bishop Theophan writes: “The Apostle added this both to show his love for Timothy and to dispose Timothy himself to turn prayerfully to the Lord when approaching the understanding of God’s words. For there is one Teacher, Christ (Mt 23:8). There never was, is not, and never will be anyone who, by himself, properly understands and fully assimilates the full truth of God in his soul. The Lord grants this to whom He wills and when He wills. For even the enlightened do not all know everything, and what they know they do not all learn at once. Therefore prayer for the addition of faith and the increase of understanding must be unceasing in all, and all the more in pastors.”

Labor, and at once you will see the fruit of your labor in those entrusted to your care. You will see it in their enlightenment by the knowledge of truth, in the flourishing of every virtue among them, and in their overshadowing by gracious sanctification.

You will see such fruits and taste from them consolation and spiritual joy, which will feed your soul more sweetly than honey and the honeycomb.

Blessed Theodoret writes: “You have great rewards for your labors as you cultivate the souls entrusted to you.”

Or it may be understood thus: while you teach others, you yourself will be illumined more fully by the light of truth. As you guide others on the path of virtue, you yourself will be anointed with it.

As you graciously sanctify others in the Mysteries, you yourself will partake more fully of the grace of the Mysteries.

Only labor. If you do not labor, truth will begin to grow dim in your soul, virtue will weaken, and grace will withdraw its overshadowing from you.

A pastor who does not labor in teaching, in guiding others to virtue, and in sanctifying his flock by the Mysteries and other sanctifying rites, first of all harms himself.

Likewise, by laboring, he is the first to taste the fruits of good pastorship.

St John Chrysostom says: “After speaking of what happens among ordinary people, of soldiers and combatants, and indicating their rewards, first, ‘that he may please the commander,’ and second, ‘that he may be crowned,’ he now gives a third example, especially close to Timothy as archpastor. The example of the soldier and combatant also applies to those under authority, but the example of the farmer applies to the teacher, the pastor, who must be not only a soldier and combatant, but also a farmer. The farmer does not care for himself, but for the fruits of the earth, and in its fruits he receives no small recompense for his labors. As the farmer does not labor without profit, but himself enjoys the fruits of his labors before others, so it should be with the teacher.”

Let us continue this discourse with the words of blessed Theophylact: “So also the teacher, the pastor, does not labor in vain, but is himself the first to taste the fruit of his sweat. For God there and then repays him abundantly. Lest someone become weary and show dissatisfaction because recompense is deferred to the future, the Apostle says: behold, in the very labor you already receive recompense. If nothing else, the benefit of souls is already a great gain for you. And see, the Apostle did not simply say ‘the worker,’ but ‘the laboring one,’ that is, not one who works lightly, but one who undertakes intense and sweaty labor.”

Pastor, give no sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids. Labor day and night, and tirelessly direct mental effort, heartfelt prayer, and verbal skill all toward the work of good shepherding of the flock.

Let us not pass over the words of St Gregory of Nyssa cited by Oecumenius: “The Apostle spoke so to suggest that teachers must first show in themselves, by deed, the fulfillment of what they teach. For this is what it means for teachers to taste first of the fruits of teaching, when before others they cultivate virtue in themselves.”