Second Timothy is a letter about suffering. The apostle Paul has Timothy’s tears in mind as he writes the epistle. In 2:3-6, Paul encourages Timothy to lean into his suffering and endure it. In this passage, Paul warns Timothy against three temptations that promise to inappropriately ease the suffering of Christians in every age.

1. The temptation to ease suffering with distraction (vv. 3–4)

2. The temptation to ease suffering through disobedience (v. 5)

3. The temptation to ease suffering by dawdling (v. 6)