The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Parallel translations
- WEB The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.
- BSB The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
- NKJV The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
- NASB The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
- NLT And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.
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
The hardworking farmer should be first to receive a share of the crops. Diligent labor in ministry is met in due time with its reward.
Overview
The third image, the farmer, emphasizes patient, sustained toil before the harvest comes. As the laborer rightly shares in the fruit, so faithful ministers can expect God's reward for their diligence. Together the soldier, athlete, and farmer call Timothy to focused, disciplined, and persevering service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Cor 9:7–11Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
- Heb 10:36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
- 1 Cor 3:6–9I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
- Luke 10:2Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
- John 4:35–38Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
- 1 Cor 9:23And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
- Isa 28:24–26Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
- Matt 9:37–38Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
- Matt 20:1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
- Matt 21:33–41Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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