1 Timotius 1:18-20

1:18 I put this charge ¹  before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, ²  in order that with such encouragement ³  you may fight the good fight. 1:19 To do this ⁴  you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan ⁵  to be taught not to blaspheme.

1 Timotius 4:16

4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. ⁶  Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

1 Timotius 6:12

6:12 Compete well ⁷  for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession ⁸  for ⁹  in the presence of many witnesses.

[1:18]  ¹ sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.

[1:18]  ² sn The prophecies once spoken about you were apparently spoken at Timothy’s ordination (cf. 1 Tim 4:14) and perhaps spoke of what God would do through him. Thus they can encourage him in his work, as the next clause says.

[1:18]  ³ tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work).

[1:19]  ⁴ tn In Greek this continues the same sentence from v. 18, a participle showing the means by which Timothy will accomplish his task: Grk “fight the good fight, holding firmly…”

[1:20]  ⁵ sn The expression handed over to Satan refers to an act of discipline mentioned by Paul here and in 1 Cor 5:5, with a remedial goal, not a punitive one. The Greek word translated taught in this verse is used of “discipline, training of children” to lead them to correct behavior.

[4:16]  ⁶ tn Grk “about yourself and your teaching.”

[6:12]  ⁷ tn This phrase literally means “compete in the good competition of the faith,” using words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”

[6:12]  ⁸ sn At some point in Timothy’s life, he publicly acknowledged Jesus as the resurrected Lord, perhaps either at his baptism or his ordination as a minister of the gospel. With this reminder of the historical moment of his good confession, Timothy is encouraged to remain steadfast in his faith and to finish his life as a minister in the same way it began (see G. W. Knight, Pastoral Epistles [NIGTC], 264-65).

[6:12]  ⁹ tn Grk “confessed the good confession.”