1 Timothy 6:12 12Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the the good confession before many witnesses.
Paul’s exhortation to Timothy continues in this verse as he reminds Timothy of the most important matters as he closes the letter. He sounds like Timothy’s coach with the illustration of fighting the good fight of faith. The arena of the fight where we struggle against the forces of evil, sin, temptation, doubt, fears, and deceit is faith. The verb fight is present tense, indicating that this fight of faith must become Timothy’s lifestyle; his life must be marked by faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith has the article in the Greek, could indicates that it could refer to the Christian faith, meaning that Timothy must ensure orthodoxy. But he could not do that by neglecting his own faith. This fight was not about the intellect but the heart.
The prize of the fight is eternal life. Timothy must fight to take hold of this. Take hold gives the image of a decisive decision to grab onto an object with all one’s strength and will. Don’t let go of the prize. We can begin to experience eternal life now in part and someday in fullness. Timothy was called to this life, but not just him but all people. All human beings were created to experience life eternal, but only those who grab hold of it through believing in Jesus Christ actually obtain it faith ( 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:3-7).
Timothy also confessed his faith in Jesus before many witnesses. A public testimony of persons’ faith solidifies their decision and gathers people around them to help guide and nurture them. Confessing one’s faith in Jesus does not mean the eternal life that one has grasped will be easy and free from pain and suffering. For Timothy, his decision meant many trials, but he had the source of the Holy Spirit with him. Paul will take up that topic in his second letter to him. The confession Timothy made was the good confession, possibly referring to the central confession of early Christians: “Jesus is Lord.” Remembering one’s initial commitment and having the affirmation of others can be powerful supports for effectiveness is the fight for our faith in Jesus.
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