A.T. Robertson Commentary 2 Timothy 2:4

"No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier." — 2 Timothy 2:4 (ASV)

No soldier on service (ουδεις στρατευομενος). "No one serving as a soldier." See 1 Corinthians 9:7 for this old verb and 2 Corinthians 10:3; 1 Timothy 1:18 for the metaphorical use.

Entangleth himself (εμπλεκετα). Old compound, to inweave (see Mt 27:29 for πλεκω), in N.T. only here and 2 Peter 2:20. Present middle (direct) indicative.

In the affairs (ταις πραγματειαις). Old word (from πραγματευομα, Luke 19:13), business, occupation, only here in N.T.

Of this life (του βιου). No "this" in the Greek, "of life" (course of life as in 1 Timothy 2:2, not existence ζωη).

Him who enrolled him as a soldier (τω στρατολογησαντ). Dative case after αρεση (first aorist active subjunctive of αρεσκω, to please, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, purpose clause with ινα) of the articular first aorist active participle of στρατολογεω, literary Koine word (στρατολογος, from στρατος and λεγω), only here in N.T.