God’s Word for You

2 Timothy 2:5 according to the rules

by Pastor Timothy Smith on Monday, June 15, 2026

5 And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

I used to think that it was a weakness of Paul that he so often brought out sports illustrations in his preaching and letters. Perhaps this is because I’ve so often heard them in my lifetime and they so seldom seem to make the point. But Paul’s illustrations always land firmly on the point he’s making, and therefore this is no weakness at all. For example, here he isn’t talking about any particular sport and even less about any particular team or athlete, but just athletes in general. If one doesn’t compete according to the rules, one cannot win or take home the stephanos or laurel wreath that was the prize in Paul’s day. This applies to every single sport one can imagine, from the school sports I used to watch so safely from the bench (“You always come home with such a clean uniform!” my mom used to say, “Not at all like your brother, who always gets so dirty and even bloody”) to the stock car and drag racing some of my uncles so dangerously did, there are rules to be followed.

This is the second point Paul is making after telling Timothy to endure hardships (verse 3). The first example was to be a good soldier (verses 3-4), one who is concerned about pleasing his commanding officer and not about civilian affairs. Now he uses the idea of a good athlete, competing according to the rules in order to achieve the victor’s crown. If other athletes break the rules, that is not his concern, except maybe to point out their rule-breaking if necessary. His main concern is to compete the way that he should.

So it is with ministers of the gospel. In his commentary, Professor Armin Schuetze applies this to a minister who “becomes politically active or who engages simply in social reform.” He is in danger of losing the crown of victory. In fact, to “compete according to the rules” for a minister of the gospel is to follow sound doctrine, to do the will of the Father, and to administer the sacraments and preach law and gospel. In fact, the word Paul uses here of an athlete competing “according to the rules” is the Greek term nomímos (νομίμως), the same word Paul uses to say “the law is good if one uses it properly” in 1 Timothy 1:8. That is, the law does its work in our hearts when it is taught in the correct manner. For example, the word of God is not correctly handled if the law is preached to those who are already in terror on account of their sins, or if the gospel is preached to those who live securely in their sins and don’t think that they have anything to repent about. Or again, the word of God is not handled correctly if poor sinners who have been struck down and terrified by the law are not directed to the word and the sacraments for their comfort and forgiveness, but instead to their own prayers and wrestlings with God, as if they could somehow win their way into a state of grace. To make things worse, this is always done, (that is, they are told to keep praying and struggling) until they “feel” that God has forgiven them. This is monstrous! Mankind’s forgiveness does not depend on our feelings of being forgiven, but upon God’s forensic declaration that we are forgiven.

Consider this in terms of the way some people take the Lord’s Supper. What is required to receive the Lord’s Supper? First, we want to prepare to receive the sacrament by examining our lives and recognizing our sins as sins, knowing that we need the sacrament and that it is not merely a symbol or mere memorial (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). Second, we receive the sacrament in faith, because Jesus said, “This is my body, given for you… my blood, poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20), and these words require nothing but hearts that believe. Third, since we confess our unity of faith when we receive the sacrament together (1 Corinthians 11:26, 10:17), we are careful about whom we invite to receive Communion because we do not want anyone to bring God’s judgment on themselves by receiving the sacrament in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). But there are those who become worried about their feelings when they receive the sacrament. They think that they must be somber and downcast the whole while, and even afterward, as if receiving a gift from the hand of God should not be done with joy. Now, it is good to be reverent and give Christ honor and respect, but this can be done with joy, and for some, can be done with little or no emotion at all, but with a quietly thankful heart. For the Psalm writer said, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

Here, then, Paul is using language similar to that of James, who talks like a coach. The warning about suffering hardship is not a scolding, but a caution. “You might have trouble ahead—be ready for it, and God will be with you.” This is just the kind of encouragement we need every day, whether pastor or layperson, employee or boss, mom, dad, child, or newlyweds on their honeymoon. God will be with you.

In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith

 

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