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Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Decision;   Faith;   Fight of Faith;   Holiness;   Immortality;   Life;   Meekness;   Minister, Christian;   Testimony;   Timothy;   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Battle of Life;   Christianity;   Conflict, Spiritual;   Faith;   Faith-Unbelief;   Leaders;   Ministers;   Religious;   Spiritual;   Warfare, Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Eternal Life;   War/weapons;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Call of God, the;   Confessing Christ;   Faith;   Life, Eternal;   Warfare of Saints;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Confession;   Election;   Pastor;   Perseverance;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Baptize, Baptism;   Call, Calling;   Confess, Confession;   Eternal Life, Eternality, Everlasting Life;   Immortality;   Timothy, First and Second, Theology of;   War, Holy War;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Agony;   Eternal Life;   Games;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Baptism;   Games;   Iconium;   Timothy;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jangling;   Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Baptism;   Call, Called, Calling;   Confession;   Confession (of Christ);   Discipline;   Eternal Everlasting;   Eternal Life (2);   Games;   Immortality (2);   Life and Death;   Marks Stigmata;   Metaphor;   Perseverance;   Prize;   Profession;   Sacraments;   Salvation Save Saviour;   Stigmata ;   Timothy;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Violence;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Confession;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Games;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fight;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostles' Creed, the;   Church Government;   Confession;   Games;   Life;   Profess;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 13;   Today's Word from Skip Moen - Devotion for May 6;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Legacy Standard Bible
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Be battle tested in the fight for the true faith. Tie hard and fast to the eternity God has promised all cowboys who ride for the brand. You accepted the challenge, now finish it, and finish it well.
Bible in Basic English
Be fighting the good fight of the faith; take for yourself the life eternal, for which you were marked out, and of which you gave witness in the eyes of all.
Darby Translation
Strive earnestly [in] the good conflict of faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
Christian Standard Bible®
Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses.
World English Bible
Fight the good fight of the faith. Lay hold of the eternal life, whereunto you were called, and confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which thou art called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
Weymouth's New Testament
Exert all your strength in the honourable struggle for the faith; lay hold of the Life of the Ages, to which you were called, when you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses.
King James Version (1611)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternall life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Literal Translation
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
fighte a good fighte of faith: laye honde on eternall life, where vnto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Mace New Testament (1729)
exert yourself in the glorious cause of faith, and secure the prize of eternal life, to which you were called, when you made that excellent profession of faith before so many witnesses.
Amplified Bible
Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.
American Standard Version
Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
Revised Standard Version
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Fyght ye good fyght of fayth. Laye honde on eternall lyfe where vnto thou arte called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Update Bible Version
Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the eternal life, to which you were called and confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
Webster's Bible Translation
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Young's Literal Translation
be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses.
New Century Version
Fight the good fight of faith, grabbing hold of the life that continues forever. You were called to have that life when you confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
New English Translation
Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.
Berean Standard Bible
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
Contemporary English Version
Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life. God offered it to you when you clearly told about your faith, while so many people listened.
Complete Jewish Bible
Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses.
English Standard Version
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Fight the good fight of faith: lay holde of eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, & hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
George Lamsa Translation
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life to which you are called, having professed a true profession before many witnesses.
Hebrew Names Version
Fight the good fight of the faith. Lay hold of the eternal life, whereunto you were called, and confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
International Standard Version
Fight the good fight for the faith. Keep your hold on eternal life, to which you were called and about which you gave a good testimony in front of many witnesses.1 Corinthians 9:25-26; Philippians 3:12,14; 1 Timothy 1:18; 6:19; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 13:23;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And contend in the good agony of faith, and lay hold of the life which is eternal, unto which thou art called, and hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses.
Murdock Translation
12 And contend in the good contest of faith; and lay hold of life eternal, to which thou art called, and [fn] thou hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses.
New King James Version
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
New Living Translation
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.
New Life Bible
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the life that lasts forever. You were chosen to receive it. You have spoken well about this life in front of many people.
English Revised Version
Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
New Revised Standard
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Be contesting the noble contest of the faith, - lay hold of the age-abiding life - unto which thou wast called, and didst make the noble confession before many witnesses.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called and be it confessed a good confession before many witnesses.
Lexham English Bible
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hand on eternall lyfe, wherevnto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Easy-to-Read Version
We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.
New American Standard Bible
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Good News Translation
Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Stryue thou a good strijf of feith, catche euerlastinge lijf, in to which thou art clepid, and hast knoulechid a good knouleching bifor many witnessis.

Contextual Overview

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Fight: 1 Timothy 1:18, Zechariah 10:5, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 9:26, 2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 2 Timothy 4:7

lay: 1 Timothy 6:19, Psalms 63:8, Proverbs 3:18, Song of Solomon 3:4, Philippians 3:12-14, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 6:18, 1 John 2:25, Revelation 3:3

whereunto: Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:23, Romans 9:24, Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 Peter 5:10

hast: 1 Timothy 6:13, Deuteronomy 26:3, Deuteronomy 26:17-19, Isaiah 44:5, Luke 12:8, Luke 12:9, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10, Hebrews 13:23

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:30 - service Numbers 8:24 - wait upon Deuteronomy 20:3 - be ye terrified Judges 3:2 - might know 1 Chronicles 26:6 - mighty men of valour Proverbs 24:6 - by Matthew 10:32 - confess me Matthew 19:16 - eternal Romans 7:23 - another 1 Corinthians 9:7 - goeth 1 Corinthians 16:13 - quit Ephesians 1:18 - his calling 2 Timothy 2:2 - many Titus 1:2 - eternal 1 Peter 3:21 - the answer 1 Peter 5:9 - stedfast

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Genesis 6:2
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Genesis 6:3
And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord .
Genesis 6:13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:14
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
Genesis 6:15
And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
Genesis 6:16
A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Fight the good fight of faith,.... The apostle suggests to Timothy, that he had other business to do than to mind the things of this world; his life was a state of warfare; he was a soldier, and was not to entangle himself with the things of this life; he had many enemies to engage with, as Satan, and his principalities and powers; sin, and the lusts of the flesh; the world, and the men of it, and a great fight of afflictions to endure with them; as also false teachers, with, whom particularly he was to fight the good fight of faith, that so the truth of the Gospel, which they resisted, might continue with the saints. This fight is called "the fight of faith"; partly in opposition to the law, and to מלחמתה של תורה, "the fight", or "war of the law" the Jews r so much talk of; and in which the false teachers, in the apostle's time, were so much engaged, and against whom the apostles set themselves; and partly because the doctrine of faith, the faith of the Gospel, the faith once delivered to the saints, is what they earnestly contended, strove, and fought for; and because the grace of faith, as conversant with the Scriptures of truth, was the weapon they fought with: and this may be called a "good fight", because it is in a good cause, the cause of God and truth; and under a good Captain, Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation; for which good weapons are provided, even the whole armour of God, and which are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty; to which may be added, that those who are engaged in this fight may be sure of victory, and the crown of glory, life, and righteousness: so that when they have done fighting they have nothing else to do but to

lay hold on eternal life; as Timothy for his encouragement is here bid to do. Eternal life is the prize of the high calling of God, which is held up, and held forth to those who are fighting the Lord's battles; and this they should look unto as the recompense of reward; and this they may lay hold upon, even now by faith, believing their interest in it, their right unto it, and that they shall enjoy it; of which they may be the more assured, because of their effectual calling:

whereunto thou art also called; not barely by the external ministration of the Gospel, in which sense many are called, but few chosen and saved; but internally, by the special grace and power of the Spirit of God; and such who are so called, are not only called to grace, but to eternal glory; and the God of all grace, who has called unto it, of his sovereign good will and pleasure, is faithful, and will bestow it. The word "also" is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin, and in all the Oriental versions; but it seems to be emphatic, and is used to strengthen Timothy's faith, as to the enjoyment of eternal life; since it was not only the reward of grace, following upon the good fight of faith, but was that also to which he was called by the grace of God:

and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses; both before the brethren at Lystra, at his baptism and admission into the church, before whom he gave an account of his faith, and made a profession of it; and who, upon this, and his agreeable life and conversation, gave a good report of him to the Apostle Paul, Acts 16:1 and before the apostle, and the rest of the elders, when they laid their hands on him, whereby an extraordinary gift was conveyed unto him, 1 Timothy 4:14 or it may be before the men of the world, some violent persecutors, before whom he bravely, and with great intrepidity, professed his faith in Christ Jesus; and which he continued constantly to do, in every place wherever he came; and which being done so often, and so publicly, is a reason why he should keep on till the battle was over.

r Zohar in Numb. fol. 99. 4. T. Hieros. Taanith, fol. 69. 2. & Bab. Chagiga, fol. 14. 1. Megilia, fol. 15. 2. & Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2. & 111. 2. Midrash Ruth, fol. 31. 4. Echa Rabbati, fol. 53. 2. Caphtor, fol. 93. 2. & Seder Olam Rabba, c. 25. & Jarchi in Cant. iii. 8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Fight the good fight of faith - The noble conflict in the cause of religion; see the notes on Ephesians 6:10-17; compare notes on 1 Corinthians 9:26-27. The allusion is to the contests at the Grecian games.

Lay hold on eternal life - As the crown of victory that is held out to you. Seize this as eagerly as the competitors at the Grecian games laid hold on the prize; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:25.

Whereunto thou art also called - That is, by the Spirit of God, and by the very nature of your profession. God does not “call” his people that they may become rich; he does not convert them in order that they may devote themselves to the business of gain. They are “called” to a higher and nobler work. Yet how many professing Christians there are who seem to live as if God had “called” them to the special business of making money, and who devote themselves to it with a zeal and assiduity that would do honor to such a calling, if this had been the grand object which God had in view in converting them!

And hast professed a good profession before many witnesses - That is, either when he embraced the Christian religion, and made a public profession of it in the presence of the church and of the world; or when he was solemnly set apart to the ministry; or as he in his Christian life had been enabled publicly to evince his attachment to the Saviour. I see no reason to doubt that the apostle may have referred to the former, and that in early times a profession of religion may have been openly made before the church and the world. Such a method of admitting members to the church would have been natural, and would have been fitted to make a deep impression on others. It is a good thing often to remind professors of religion of the feelings which they had when they made a profession of religion; of the fact that the transaction was witnessed by the world; and of the promises which they then made to lead holy lives. One of the best ways of stimulating ourselves or others to the faithful performance of duty, is the remembrance of the vows then made; and one of the most effectual methods of reclaiming a backslider is to bring to his remembrance that solemn hour when he publicly gave himself to God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. Fight the good fight of faith — "Agonize the good agony." Thou hast a contest to sustain in which thy honour, thy life, thy soul, are at stake. Live the Gospel, and defend the cause of God. Unmask hypocrites, expel the profligate, purge and build up the Church, live in the spirit of thy religion, and give thyself wholly to this work.

Lay hold on eternal life — All this is in allusion to the exercises in the public Grecian games: Fight, conquer, and seize upon the prize; carry off the crown of eternal life!

Whereunto thou art also called — The allusion to the public games is still carried on: Thou hast been called into this palaestra; thou hast been accepted as one proper to enter the lists with any antagonists that may offer; in the presence of many witnesses thou hast taken the necessary engagements upon thee, and submitted to be governed by the laws of the stadium; many eyes are upon thee, to see whether thou wilt fight manfully, and be faithful. Timothy's faith was undoubtedly tried by severe persecution. In Hebrews 13:23, it is said: Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty. Hence it appears that he was imprisoned for the testimony of Christ, and perhaps it was then, more than at his ordination, that he made the good confession here mentioned. He risked his life and conquered. If not a martyr, he was a confessor.


 
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