1 Timothy 6:12

1 Timothy 6:12

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.

a. NLT: Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

b. NIV: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

c. YLT: Be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.

e. Worrell Translation: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on the eternal life, to which you were called, and confesses a good confession before many witnesses.

f. Wuest Translation: Be constantly engaging in the contest of the Faith, which contest is marked by its beauty of technique. Take possession of the eternal life into a participation of which you were called and concerning which you gave testimony to your agreement with the good profession [you made] in the presence of many witnesses.

1. “Fight the good fight of faith…”

a. 1st fight [75 * agonizomai][Thayer: to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games, to contend with adversaries, fight, metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to, obtain something.]

b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. good [Strong: 2570 kalos kal-os' of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.]

d. 2nd fight [73 * agon] [Strong: properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety:--conflict, contention, fight, race.

1). Interestingly, there are two different Greek words for our English word for “fight” in this phrase.

2). Our English word “agony” is derived from this Greek word.

e. [of the] faith [4102 * pistis][Strong: persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

1). The best definition I have found from Greek word studies is from W. E. Vine Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, an excerpt from his work says this: “The main elements in faith in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct from faith in man, are especially brought out in the use of this noun and corresponding verb. They are: 1. A firm conviction producing a full acknowledgement of God’s word as truth: Romans 3:2-4. 2. Personal surrender to Him: John 1:12; John 8:31-34. 3. Conduct inspired by such surrender: 2 Corinthians 5:7. All this stands in contrast to belief in its purely natural exercise, which consists of an opinion held in good faith without necessary reference to its proofs.”

2). The word of God’s definition is found in the book of Hebrews.

a). Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(1) substance [Strong: 5287 hupostasis hoop-os'-tas-is from a compound of 5259 and 2476; a setting under (support), i.e. (figuratively) concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance (objectively or subjectively):--confidence, confident, person, substance.] [Thayer: a setting or placing under, thing put under, substructure, foundation,  that which has foundation, is firm, that which has actual existence, a substance, real being, the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing, the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution, confidence, firm trust, assurance.]

(2) evidence [Strong: 1650  elegchos el'-eng-khos from 1651; proof, conviction:--evidence, reproof.] [Thayer: a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested, conviction.]

3). Faith is the actual existence, the proof of things you can’t see.

4). A. S. Worrel’s Translation of Hebrews 11:1 is “Now faith is an assurance of things hoped for, a sure persuasion of things not seen.” In his notes he writes, “Assurance: substance or reality, A sure persuasion of things not seen; faith makes invisible things real and inspiring.”

5). A very important element in faith is faith requires previous instruction.

a). Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. “…lay hold on eternal life…”

a. lay hold [Strong: 1949 epilambanomai ep-ee-lam-ban'-om-ahee middle voice from 1909 and 2983; to seize (for help, injury, attainment, or any other purpose; literally or figuratively):--catch, lay hold (up-)on, take (by, hold of, on).] [Zodhiates: epilambanomai; epi-upon; lambano-to take; to take hold upon, lay hold of in order to hold or detain oneself.]

b. eternal [Strong: 166 aionios ahee-o'-nee-os from 165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):--eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).]

c. life [Strong: 2222 zoe dzo-ay' from 2198; life (literally or figuratively):--life(-time).] [English: zoo]

1). The wording is very clear. The Scripture commands us to lay hold on eternal life. This is not hoping for eternal life or guessing about it. We are to know we have eternal life.

a). 1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

b). John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

2). We must not limit “eternal life” to going to heaven. Of course it is that, but it also includes the blessed life He has given to those who walk in obedience to His word. Partaking of the Covenant blessings. The following passages reveal this truth.

a). Deuteronomy 30:19, 20  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

b). John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

c). Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

3. “…whereunto thou art also called…”

a. whereunto [Strong: 1519  eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

b. [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. [thou art] also [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. called [Strong: 2564 kaleo kal-eh'-o akin to the base of 2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):--bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).

1). Because it is God’s will that all be saved, all have been called.

4. “…and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. [hast] professed [Strong: 3670 homologeo hom-ol-og-eh'-o from a compound of the base of 3674 and 3056; to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:--con- (pro-)fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.] [Thayer: to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent, to concede, not to refuse, to promise, not to deny, to confess, declare, to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of, to profess, to declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one's self the worshipper of one, to praise, celebrate.]

c. a good [Strong: 2570 kalos kal-os' of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.]

d. profession [Strong: 3671 homologia hom-ol-og-ee'-ah from the same as 3670; acknowledgment:--con- (pro-)fession, professed.] [Zodhiates: homologia; from homologeo-to say the same, to agree, confess; A confession, profession, or recognition.] [Vines: Denotes confession, by acknowledgment of the truth.]

e. before [Strong: 1799  enopion en-o'-pee-on neuter of a compound of 1722 and a derivative of 3700; in the face of (literally or figuratively):--before, in the presence (sight) of, to.]

f. many [Strong: 4183 polus pol-oos' including the forms from the alternate pollos; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly.]

g. witnesses [Strong: 3144 martus mar'-toos of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr":-- martyr, record, witness.]

1). We are to fight the good fight of faith by professing a good profession i.e., saying the same thing. The same thing as other people? The same thing as what? The same thing as God says, of course! The fight of faith has to be in the spirit of faith.

a). 2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

2). If we believe then we must speak. The pattern of saying the same thing that God says is how we got born again, it is how we get saved.

a). Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

3). We are to strive with strenuous zeal to engage in this conflict, acknowledging God’s word as truth, surrendering to Him, and conducting ourselves in actions that show we believe it. Declaring and speaking the same things God’s word says. If we can enter into Covenant relationship with God by getting born again and change where we spend eternity by simply believing and confessing what God’s word says about the matter, then we should be doing the same with our whole life. When we engage in the spiritual practice of confessing God’s word over ourselves, our family and our circumstances, we are only saying about ourselves what God has already said. As we go through our life, living in Christ, we lay hold on the eternal life in Christ by confessing the Scriptures over our life, our circumstances. We confess and declare the Scripture in agreement with the things we have already prayed for, and what the Scripture says is God’s will for us. We do this regardless of the circumstances for we know the circumstances with change by the power of God. We confess that we walk in the Spirit not in the flesh. We confess that we prosper in health, spiritual, mental and physical, that we are preserved blameless spirit, soul, and body. We confess that we are observing to do all of the word. We confess and meditate that we are blessed. I do not walk in ungodly counsel, I do not stand in sinful ways, I do not sit in the seat of the scornful.