the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible
1 Timothy 6:12
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- DailyContextual Overview
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
When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,
Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
And it came to passe, that when men began to be multiplied in the vpper face of the earth, there were daughters borne vnto the:
The number of people on earth continued to increase. When these people had daughters, the sons of God saw how beautiful they were. So they chose the women they wanted. They married them, and the women had their children. Then the Lord said, "People are only human. I will not let my Spirit be troubled by them forever. I will let them live only 120 years." During this time and also later, the Nephilim people lived in the land. They have been famous as powerful soldiers since ancient times.
When men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
And whanne men bigunnen to be multiplied on erthe, and hadden gendrid douytris,
And it came to passe, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were borne vnto them:
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
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.
