1 Timothy 6:13-16 13I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who testified before Pontius Pilate the good confession, 14in order that you might keep the commandment without fault or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul gives another solemn charge to Timothy similar to 1:9; 4:12, 16; and 5:21. These reminders could have had two effects on Timothy: Paul gives him the authority to act in the situation as Paul’s representative, and Paul reminds Timothy of the essential responsibilities he had in Ephesus. The command Paul gives takes on significant weight as he calls the two witnesses of God and Christ Jesus. God as the giver of life to all things holds the power to sustain Timothy through the opposition he faced from the false teachers. Anyone facing a similar situation might be tempted to take the easy way out to avoid conflict by compromising and being a people pleaser.
The confession of faith was very important to Paul since he repeats the idea from verse 12 with reference to the confession Jesus made before Pilate. Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judea who ordered Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:24; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:25; John 19:16). Pilate asked the critical question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 18:33-37). Pilate had the power to release Jesus. Jesus could have taken the easy way out and walked away from the cross because he was innocent. But instead, he chose the difficult way of following the truth and answered, “I am.”
The command is given in an infinitive purpose clause: keep the commandment. What this command was is not clear in these verses but likely goes back to Paul’s exhortation in verse 12 to keep the faith and confession. Timothy must not compromise his faith or lifestyle but live out his faith without fault or reproach. Without fault (aspilon) can mean without spot or blemish, like one of the sacrifices in the Old Testament (Leviticus 4:3). Without reproach (anepilēmpton) refers to a lifestyle where no one can find a fault or criticize. Basically, Timothy needed to be an example in word and deed of the faith he professed. Paul’s addition of the eschatological reference of Jesus’ second coming shows that the fight of faith was not a temporary round but a lifetime battle. Like Timothy, we must always be ready for Jesus’ return. We must be faithful until our last breath–no compromise in devotion or godly living.
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