John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. No man that warreth , etc.] Who is a soldier, and gives himself up to military service, in a literal sense: the Vulgate Latin version, without any authority, adds, to God; as if the apostle was speaking of a spiritual warfare; whereas he is illustrating a spiritual warfare by a corporeal one; and observes, that no one, that is in a military state, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life ; with civil affairs, in distinction from military ones. The Roman soldiers might not follow any trade or business of life, or be concerned in husbandry, or merchandise of any sort, but were wholly to attend to military exercises, and to the orders of their general; for to be employed in any secular business was reckoned an entangling of them, a taking of them off from, and an hindrance to their military discipline: and by this the apostle suggests that Christ's people, his soldiers, and especially his ministers, should not he involved and implicated in worldly affairs and cares; for no man can serve two masters, God and mammon; but should wholly give up themselves to the work and service to which they are called; and be ready to part with all worldly enjoyments, and cheerfully suffer the loss of all things, when called to it, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel: that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier ; his captain, or general, who has enlisted him, enrolled and registered him among his soldiers; whom to please should be his chief concern; as it should be the principal thing attended to by a Christian soldier, or minister of the Gospel, not to please men, nor to please himself, by seeking his own ease and rest, his worldly emoluments and advantages, but to please the Lord Christ, in whose book his name is written.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - As our trials increase, we need to grow stronger in that which is good our faith stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Chris stronger. This is opposed to our being strong in our own strength. All Christians, but especially ministers, must be faithful to their Captain, and resolute in his cause. The great care of a Christian mus be to please Christ. We are to strive to get the mastery of our lust and corruptions, but we cannot expect the prize unless we observe the laws. We must take care that we do good in a right manner, that ou good may not be spoken evil of. Some who are active, spend their zea about outward forms and doubtful disputations. But those who striv lawfully shall be crowned at last. If we would partake the fruits, we must labour; if we would gain the prize, we must run the race. We mus do the will of God, before we receive the promises, for which reason we have need of patience. Together with our prayers for others, that the Lord would give them understanding in all things, we must exhort an stir them up to consider what they hear or read.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουδεις 3762 A-NSM στρατευομενος 4754 5734 V-PMP-NSM εμπλεκεται 1707 5743 V-PPI-3S ταις 3588 T-DPF του 3588 T-GSM βιου 979 N-GSM πραγματειαις 4230 N-DPF ινα 2443 CONJ τω 3588 T-DSM στρατολογησαντι 4758 5660 V-AAP-DSM αρεση 700 5661 V-AAS-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. That warreth (strateuomenov). Better, when engaged in warfare. Rev. no soldier on service. In Paul, 1 Cor. ix. 7; 2 Cor. x. 3. In Pastorals only here and 1 Tim. i. 18.Entangleth himself (empleketai). Only here and 2 Pet. ii. 20 (see note). This has been made an argument for clerical celibacy.
In the affairs of this life (taiv tou biou pragmatiaiv). Better, affairs of life. Not as A.V. verse implies, in contrast with the affairs of the next life, but simply the ordinary occupations of life. In N.T., biov means either means of subsistence, as Mark. xii. 44; Luke viii. 43; 1 John iii. 17; or course of life, as Luke viii. 14. Biov P o .
Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier (tw stratologhsanti). N.T.o . o LXX. Better, enrolled him as a soldier.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:4 {No soldier on service} (oudeis strateuomenos). "No one serving as a soldier." See #1Co 9:7 for this old verb and #2Co 10:3; 1Ti 1:18 for the metaphorical use. {Entangleth himself} (empleketai). Old compound, to inweave (see #Mt 27:29 for plekw), in N.T. only here and #2Pe 2:20. Present middle (direct) indicative. {In the affairs} (tais pragmateiais). Old word (from pragmateuomai, #Lu 19:13), business, occupation, only here in N.T. {Of this life} (tou biou). No " this " in the Greek, "of life" (course of life as in #1Ti 2:2, not existence z"). {Him who enrolled him as a soldier} (twi stratologesanti). Dative case after aresei (first aorist active subjunctive of areskw, to please, #1Th 2:4, purpose clause with hina) of the articular first aorist active participle of stratologew, literary _Koin_ word (stratologos, from stratos and legw), only here in N.T.
