2:2 among. A better rendering of “among,” is “attested by.” The “sound words, which thou hast heard of me” (II Timothy 1:13) had not been heard only by Timothy, but had been attested by many others as well. It was vital that they be preserved and transmitted, and this would now be Timothy’s responsibility, since Paul was no longer able to do this. This was the principle and practice predicted in Psalm 145:4. “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”

2:3 endure hardness. “Endure hardness” is one word in the Greek (kakapatheo), the same word as in “suffer trouble” and “endure afflictions” (II Timothy 2:9; 4:5). A fruitful Christian life is inevitably accompanied by much opposition from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and Paul wanted to encourage young Timothy to stand strong, as he himself had done for so long.

2:3 soldier. The Christian is often compared in Scripture to a soldier, engaged in spiritual warfare with the hosts of darkness (II Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-18; I Thessalonians 5:8).