No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Parallel translations
- WEB No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
- BSB A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
- NKJV No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
- NASB No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.
- NLT Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A soldier on duty avoids entanglement in civilian affairs so as to please his commanding officer. Singleminded devotion to Christ frees the minister from competing distractions.
Overview
Continuing the soldier image, Paul stresses focused loyalty to the one who enlisted him. The minister, like a soldier, must not let the ordinary concerns of life crowd out his primary allegiance to Christ. The aim is to please the Lord who called him, keeping ministry undivided in its devotion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Th 2:4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
- Luke 8:14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
- 2 Pet 2:20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
- 1 Cor 9:25–26And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
- 1 Cor 7:22–23For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
- Luke 9:59–62And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
- 2 Cor 5:9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
- 2 Tim 4:10For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
- 1 Tim 6:9–12But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
- Deut 20:5–7And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
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Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
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Original language
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