FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

Passage: 1 Timothy 6:11-21

Key verse: 12

NIV

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God,(A) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,(B) faith, love,(C) endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight(D) of the faith. Take hold of(E) the eternal life(F) to which you were called when you made your good confession(G) in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate(H) made the good confession,(I) I charge you(J) 14 to keep this command without spot or blame(K) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,(L) 15 which God will bring about in his own time(M)—God, the blessed(N) and only Ruler,(O) the King of kings and Lord of lords,(P) 16 who alone is immortal(Q) and who lives in unapproachable light,(R) whom no one has seen or can see.(S) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.(T)

17 Command those who are rich(U) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,(V) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,(W) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.(X) 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,(Y) and to be generous and willing to share.(Z) 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves(AA) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of(AB) the life that is truly life.

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted(AC) to your care. Turn away from godless chatter(AD) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.(AE)

Grace be with you all.(AF)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

11 But as for you, (A)O man of God, (B)flee these things. (C)Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 (D)Fight the good fight of the faith. (E)Take hold of the eternal life (F)to which you were called and about which you made (G)the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 (H)I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, (I)who in his testimony before[a] Pontius Pilate made (J)the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until (K)the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display (L)at the proper time—he who is (M)the blessed and only Sovereign, (N)the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 (O)who alone has immortality, (P)who dwells in (Q)unapproachable light, (R)whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in (S)this present age, charge them (T)not to be haughty, nor (U)to set their hopes on (V)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, (W)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, (X)to be rich in good works, to be generous and (Y)ready to share, 19 thus (Z)storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may (AA)take hold of (AB)that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. (AC)Avoid the (AD)irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

(AE)Grace be with you.[b]

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Timothy 6:13 Or in the time of
  2. 1 Timothy 6:21 The Greek for you is plural
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul’s final words to Timothy are that he must fight the good fight of faith as a Christian. He reminds us to hold onto our faith until the second coming of Jesus, when God will bring his judgment upon the world. Until then, we should fight against the temptation of evil.

Paul commands us to put our hope in God, not in our wealth or other worldly things. We must protect our faith diligently, as it is easy to be deceived by other things that do not originate from God.

Additionally, we must guard ourselves from gossip and unholy talk, as they will turn us away from God. We must have our guard up at all times and ask for God’s protection.

Prayer: Father, thank you for blessing me with this faith. Be with me on my journey as a Christian to shine the light of Jesus.

One Word: Fight the good fight of faith.