2 Timothy 2:9 (DRB)

Passage

Wherein I labour even unto bands, as an evildoer. But the word of God is not bound.

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 2:7 Understand what I say: for the Lord will give thee in all things understanding.

2 Timothy 2:8 Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen again from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:

2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I labour even unto bands, as an evildoer. But the word of God is not bound.

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory.

2 Timothy 2:11 A faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall live also with him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wherein", "labour", "even", "bands", "evildoer", "word", and "bound". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wherein" and "labour", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ..." into verse 10's "Therefore I endure all things for the...", so "wherein" and "labour" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wherein" and "labour" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.