Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: 1 Timothy 6:12 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Ti 6:12	Strong Concordance	Fight [75] the good [2570] fight [73] of faith [4102], lay hold on [1949] eternal [166] life [2222], whereunto [1519] [3739] thou art [2564] also [2532] called [2564], and [2532] hast professed [3670] a good [2570] profession [3671] before [1799] many [4183] witnesses [3144].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Fight the good fight--BIRKS thinks this Epistle was written from Corinth, where contests in the national games recurred at stated seasons, which will account for the allusion here as in Co1 9:24-26. Contrast "strifes of words" (Ti1 6:4). Compare Ti1 1:18; Ti2 4:7. The "good profession" is connected with the good fight (Psa 60:4). lay hold on eternal life--the crown, or garland, the prize of victory, laid hold of by the winner in the "good fight" (Ti2 4:7-8; Phi 3:12-14). "Fight (literally, 'strive') with such striving earnestness as to lay hold on the prize, eternal life." also--not in the oldest manuscripts. professed a good profession--Greek, "didst confess THE good confession," namely, the Christian confession (as the Greek word is the same in this verse as that for "confession" in Ti1 6:13, probably the profession here is the confession that Christ's kingdom is the kingdom of the truth, Joh 18:36-37), at thy being set apart to thy ministerial function (whether in general, or as overseer at Ephesus): the same occasion as is referred to in Ti1 1:18; Ti1 4:14; Ti2 1:4. before many witnesses--who would testify against thee if thou shouldest fall away [BENGEL].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Fight the good fight--BIRKS thinks this Epistle was written from Corinth, where contests in the national games recurred at stated seasons, which will account for the allusion here as in Co1 9:24-26. Contrast "strifes of words" (Ti1 6:4). Compare Ti1 1:18; Ti2 4:7. The "good profession" is connected with the good fight (Psa 60:4).

lay hold on eternal life--the crown, or garland, the prize of victory, laid hold of by the winner in the "good fight" (Ti2 4:7-8; Phi 3:12-14). "Fight (literally, 'strive') with such striving earnestness as to lay hold on the prize, eternal life."

also--not in the oldest manuscripts.

professed a good profession--Greek, "didst confess THE good confession," namely, the Christian confession (as the Greek word is the same in this verse as that for "confession" in Ti1 6:13, probably the profession here is the confession that Christ's kingdom is the kingdom of the truth, Joh 18:36-37), at thy being set apart to thy ministerial function (whether in general, or as overseer at Ephesus): the same occasion as is referred to in Ti1 1:18; Ti1 4:14; Ti2 1:4.

before many witnesses--who would testify against thee if thou shouldest fall away [BENGEL].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Fight the good fight of faith - The noble conflict in the cause of religion; see the notes on Eph 6:10-17; compare notes on Co1 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 Co1 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.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Fight the good fight (ἀγωνίζου τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα) A phrase peculiar to the Pastorals. Comp. Ti2 4:7. Not necessarily a metaphor from the gymnasium or arena, although ἀγών contest was applied originally to athletic struggles. But it is also used of any struggle, outward or inward. See Col 2:1; Col 4:12. Lay hold (ἐπιλαβοῦ) oP. Frequent in Luke and Acts. Occasionally in this strong sense, as Luk 20:20; Luk 23:26; Act 18:17, but not usually. See Mar 8:23; Luk 9:47; Act 9:27. Professed a good profession (ὡμολόγησας τὴν καλὴν ὁμολογίαν) Both the verb and the noun in Paul, but this combination only here. For the use of καλός good see Ti1 1:18, and Ti1 6:12. Rend. confessed the good confession, and see on your professed subjection, Co2 9:13. It is important to preserve the force of the article, a point in which the A.V. is often at fault.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Fight the good fight of faith - Not about words. Lay hold on eternal life - Just before thee. Thou hast confessed the good confession - Perhaps at his baptism: so likewise, Ti1 6:13; but with a remarkable variation of the expression. Thou hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses - To which they all assented. He witnessed the good confession; but Pilate did not assent to it.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Fight the good fight of faith - "Agonize the good agony." Thou hast a contest to sustain in which thy honor, 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 Heb 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.

Top

⁴ Greatly desiring [1971] to see [1492] thee [4571], being mindful [3415] of thy [4675] tears [1144], that [2443] I may be filled [4137] with joy [5479];

¹⁴ Neglect [272] not [3361] the gift [5486] that is in [1722] thee [4671], which [3739] was given [1325] thee [4671] by [1223] prophecy [4394], with [3326] the laying on [1936] of the hands [5495] of the presbytery [4244].

¹⁸ This [5026] charge [3852] I commit [3908] unto thee [4671], son [5043] Timothy [5095], according to [2596] the prophecies [4394] which went before [4254] on [1909] thee [4571], that [2443] thou [4754] by [1722] them [846] mightest war [4754] a good [2570] warfare [4752];

³⁶ Jesus [2424] answered [611], My [1699] kingdom [932] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] this [5127] world [2889]: if [1487] my [1699] kingdom [932] were [2258] of [1537] this [5127] world [2889], then would [302] my [1699] servants [5257] fight [75], that [3363] I should [3860] not [3363] be delivered [3860] to the Jews [2453]: but [1161] now [3568] is [2076] my [1699] kingdom [932] not [3756] from hence [1782].
³⁷ Pilate [4091] therefore [3767] said [2036] unto him [846], Art [1488] thou [4771] a king [935] then [3766]? Jesus [2424] answered [611], Thou [4771] sayest [3004] that [3754] I [1473] am [1510] a king [935]. To [1519] this [5124] end was [1080] I [1473] born [1080], and [2532] for [1519] this [5124] cause came I [2064] into [1519] the world [2889], that [2443] I should bear witness [3140] unto the truth [225]. Every one [3956] that is [5607] of [1537] the truth [225] heareth [191] my [3450] voice [5456].

¹³ I give [3853] thee [4671] charge [3853] in the sight [1799] of God [2316], who [3588] quickeneth [2227] all things [3956], and [2532] before Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who [3588] before [1909] Pontius [4194] Pilate [4091] witnessed [3140] a good [2570] confession [3671];

¹² Not [3756] as though [3754] I had already [2235] attained [2983], either [2228] were already [2235] perfect [5048]: but [1161] I follow after [1377], if [1499] that I may apprehend [2638] that for [1909] which [3739] also [2532] I am apprehended [2638] of [5259] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].
¹³ Brethren [80], I [1473] count [3049] not [3756] myself [1683] to have apprehended [2638]: but [1161] this one thing [1520] I do, forgetting [1950] those things [3303] which are behind [3694], and [1161] reaching forth unto [1901] those things which are before [1715],
¹⁴ I press [1377] toward [2596] the mark [4649] for [1909] the prize [1017] of the high [507] calling [2821] of God [2316] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].

⁷ I have fought [75] a good [2570] fight [73], I have finished [5055] my course [1408], I have kept [5083] the faith [4102]:
⁸ Henceforth [3063] there is laid up [606] for me [3427] a crown [4735] of righteousness [1343], which [3739] the Lord [2962], the righteous [1342] judge [2923], shall give [591] me [3427] at [1722] that [1565] day [2250]: and [1161] not [3756] to me [1698] only [3440], but [235] unto all them [3956] also [2532] that love [25] his [846] appearing [2015].

⁴ Thou hast given [05414] a banner [05251] to them that fear [03373] thee, that it may be displayed [05127] because [06440] of the truth [07189]. Selah [05542].

⁷ I have fought [75] a good [2570] fight [73], I have finished [5055] my course [1408], I have kept [5083] the faith [4102]:

⁴ He is proud [5187], knowing [1987] nothing [3367], but [235] doting [3552] about [4012] questions [2214] and [2532] strifes of words [3055], whereof [1537] [3739] cometh [1096] envy [5355], strife [2054], railings [988], evil [4190] surmisings [5283],

²⁴ Know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] they which run [5143] in [1722] a race [4712] run [5143] all [3956] [3303], but [1161] one [1520] receiveth [2983] the prize [1017]? So [3779] run [5143], that [2443] ye may obtain [2638].
²⁵ And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].
²⁶ I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:

²⁵ And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].

²⁶ I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:
²⁷ But [235] I keep under [5299] my [3450] body [4983], and [2532] bring it into subjection [1396]: lest that by any means [3381] [4458], when I have preached [2784] to others [243], I myself [846] should be [1096] a castaway [96].

¹⁰ Finally [3063], my [3450] brethren [80], be strong [1743] in [1722] the Lord [2962], and [2532] in [1722] the power [2904] of his [846] might [2479].
¹¹ Put on [1746] the whole armour [3833] of God [2316], that [4314] ye [5209] may be able [1410] to stand [2476] against [4314] the wiles [3180] of the devil [1228].
¹² For [3754] we [2254] wrestle [3823] not [3756] against [2076] [4314] flesh [4561] and [2532] blood [129], but [235] against [4314] principalities [746], against [4314] powers [1849], against [4314] the rulers [2888] of the darkness [4655] of this [5127] world [165], against [4314] spiritual [4152] wickedness [4189] in [1722] high [2032] places.
¹³ Wherefore [1223] [5124] take unto you [353] the whole armour [3833] of God [2316], that [2443] ye may be able [1410] to withstand [436] in [1722] the evil [4190] day [2250], and [2532] having done [2716] all [537], to stand [2476].
¹⁴ Stand [2476] therefore [3767], having [4024] your [5216] loins [3751] girt about [4024] with [1722] truth [225], and [2532] having on [1746] the breastplate [2382] of righteousness [1343];
¹⁵ And [2532] your feet [4228] shod [5265] with [1722] the preparation [2091] of the gospel [2098] of peace [1515];
¹⁶ Above [1909] all [3956], taking [353] the shield [2375] of faith [4102], wherewith [1722] [3739] ye shall be able [1410] to quench [4570] all [3956] the fiery [4448] darts [956] of the wicked [4190].
¹⁷ And [2532] take [1209] the helmet [4030] of salvation [4992], and [2532] the sword [3162] of the Spirit [4151], which is [3603] the word [4487] of God [2316]:

¹³ Whiles by [1223] the experiment [1382] of this [5026] ministration [1248] they glorify [1392] God [2316] for [1909] your [5216] professed [3671] subjection [5292] unto [1519] the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547], and [2532] for your liberal [572] distribution [2842] unto [1519] them [846], and [2532] unto [1519] all [3956] men;

¹² Fight [75] the good [2570] fight [73] of faith [4102], lay hold on [1949] eternal [166] life [2222], whereunto [1519] [3739] thou art [2564] also [2532] called [2564], and [2532] hast professed [3670] a good [2570] profession [3671] before [1799] many [4183] witnesses [3144].

²⁷ But [1161] Barnabas [921] took [1949] him [846], and brought [71] him to [4314] the apostles [652], and [2532] declared [1334] unto them [846] how [4459] he had seen [1492] the Lord [2962] in [1722] the way [3598], and [2532] that [3754] he had spoken [2980] to him [846], and [2532] how [4459] he had preached boldly [3955] at [1722] Damascus [1154] in [1722] the name [3686] of Jesus [2424].

⁴⁷ And [1161] Jesus [2424], perceiving [1492] the thought [1261] of their [846] heart [2588], took [1949] a child [3813], and set [2476] him [846] by [3844] him [1438],

²³ And [2532] he took [1949] the blind man [5185] by the hand [5495], and led [1806] him [846] out of [1854] the town [2968]; and [2532] when he had spit [4429] on [1519] his [846] eyes [3659], and put [2007] his hands [5495] upon him [846], he asked [1905] him [846] if [1536] he saw [991] ought [1536].

¹⁷ Then [1161] all [3956] the Greeks [1672] took [1949] Sosthenes [4988], the chief ruler of the synagogue [752], and beat [5180] him before [1715] the judgment seat [968]. And [2532] Gallio [1058] cared [3199] for none [3762] of those things [5130].

²⁶ And [2532] as [5613] they led [520] him [846] away [520], they laid hold upon [1949] one [5100] Simon [4613], a Cyrenian [2956], coming [2064] out of [575] the country [68], and on [2007] him [846] they laid [2007] the cross [4716], that he might bear [5342] it after [3693] Jesus [2424].

²⁰ And [2532] they watched [3906] him, and sent forth [649] spies [1455], which should feign [5271] [1511] themselves [1438] just men [1342], that [2443] they might take hold [1949] of his [846] words [3056], that so [1519] they might deliver [3860] him [846] unto the power [746] and [2532] authority [1849] of the governor [2232].

¹² Epaphras [1889], who is one of [1537] you [5216], a servant [1401] of Christ [5547], saluteth [782] you [5209], always [3842] labouring fervently [75] for [5228] you [5216] in [1722] prayers [4335], that [2443] ye may stand [2476] perfect [5046] and [2532] complete [4137] in [1722] all [3956] the will [2307] of God [2316].

¹ For [1063] I would [2309] that ye [5209] knew [1492] what great [2245] conflict [73] I have [2192] for [4012] you [5216], and [2532] for them at [1722] Laodicea [2993], and [2532] for as many as [3745] have [3708] not [3756] seen [3708] my [3450] face [4383] in [1722] the flesh [4561];

⁷ I have fought [75] a good [2570] fight [73], I have finished [5055] my course [1408], I have kept [5083] the faith [4102]:

²³ Know ye [1097] that our brother [80] Timothy [5095] is set at liberty [630]; with [3326] whom [3739], if [1437] he come [2064] shortly [5032], I will see [3700] you [5209].