1 Timothy 6:11–16 “The Good Fight”

1 Timothy 6:11-16 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• In Christ Alone – Keith & Kristyn Getty, CityAlight
• Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me – Selah
• Crown Him With Many Crowns | Reawaken Hymns

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• When Jesus Came FACE TO FACE with Satan! (The Story of Jesus’ Temptation) | Bible Stories for Kids – Lesson for Kids
• I Have Decided | Cave Quest VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• This Little Light of Mine | Cave Quest VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Power Shuffle | True North VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

“Man of God” (v. 11) refers specifically to Timothy, but it also includes the believers in Ephesus who would hear this letter through him. “These evil things” refer to the spiritual illnesses mentioned earlier—pride, quarrels and arguments, envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, and using godliness as a means of gain. A spiritually healthy person instead pursues “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” In Galatians 5:22, the Apostle Paul calls these things the “fruit of the Spirit.” The word “pursue” translates the Greek dioko, which means to chase after something, as if pursuing a criminal. The present imperative form here carries the sense of “keep on pursuing.”

In verse 12, Paul compares faith to a “good fight.” The Greek word agona means “contest” or “wrestling match.” He calls it “good” because it is not a fight to defeat people but a struggle of faith. The phrase “take hold of eternal life” is better understood as “seize eternal life.” It means not to let go of the eternal life already given in faith, for that is the ultimate goal of Christian faith.

Timothy held firmly to eternal life, keeping his faith even in the midst of persecution. “Many witnesses” refers to those who observed his confession of faith. The “good confession” (v. 12) means openly confessing faith without fear, even under threat or persecution. The Greek word homologia, translated as “confession,” can also mean “profession” or “declaration.” Jesus Himself made the “good confession” before Pilate (v. 13). Paul encourages Timothy to “keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 14).

Paul, after mentioning Timothy’s confession, then makes his own confession of faith in verses 15–16. “In His own time” (v. 15) is better translated as “in His appointed time.” The day of Christ’s return is set by God the Father (Acts 1:7). Paul describes the return of Christ as “the appearing which God will bring about.” The second coming will be the moment when the One who was at work unseen will appear in full glory. It is God the Father who will accomplish this. He is “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” He is “the only immortal one, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.” At this point, Paul breaks into praise, offering glory and eternal dominion to God. In expressing this confession, Paul is overwhelmed by how awesome and mysterious God truly is.

Meditation:

The Apostle Paul said, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:10). “Believing with the heart” and “confessing with the mouth” are inseparable, like two sides of the same coin. True faith begins in the heart, is confessed with the lips, and is lived out through our hands and feet. The expressions “to be justified” and “to be saved” are used synonymously. Salvation is being cleansed of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ and being declared righteous.

Yet, being cleansed and declared righteous is not enough. We must also “flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness” (v. 11), living as those who are “without spot or blame” (v. 14). After being declared righteous, we must actually become righteous people. Such transformation happens only when the faith of the heart and the confession of the lips go together. This is the way to hold on to the eternal life we received when we welcomed Jesus Christ.

In this sense, the spiritual life is, at its core, a “good fight.” Internally, we must discipline ourselves in godliness while guarding against the sin that lies hidden within us. Externally, we must contend with the evil one who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Beyond this, there are also people who challenge and persecute our faith. Jesus bore witness to the truth before Pilate at the cost of His life. The Apostle Paul too, not long after writing this letter, made his “good confession” and was martyred by beheading. His testimony was this: better to die and gain eternal life than to deny the faith and lose it. Paul commends Timothy for the bold confession and witness he has already given, urging him to continue in the same way. Only then can he stand blameless before Jesus Christ at His return.

The ultimate goal of our faith is to share in the eternity of Christ when He appears again. It is like the goal of a life in the womb—to be born healthy. The unborn child does not know how wonderful this world is or how blessed life can be. In the same way, we cannot grasp how astonishing it will be to enter His kingdom. Once we catch even a glimpse of that reality, everything in this world is put into perspective. Without such faith, we could never risk our lives to make such a confession.

Prayer:

Lord, we do not fully know Your eternity. We do not yet know the fullness of Your kingdom. We do not completely understand what it means to live in the eternal life that we have in You. Please help us to know You more deeply. Let us experience more fully the power of the resurrection. Only then will we firmly hold on to the eternal life You have already given us and live by it. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Faith is both believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths, then living it out daily. Following Jesus means holding firmly to eternal life, fighting the “good fight” by resisting sin, standing strong against challenges, and trusting God’s eternal kingdom.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Paul says we should “fight the good fight.” What do you think that means? Can you think of a time when you chose what was right even though it was hard?
  • Why do you think Paul tells us to “hold on to eternal life”? What does it mean to treasure something God has given you?
  • Jesus spoke the truth even when people didn’t like it. How can you be brave to tell the truth and show God’s love at school or home?
    
• Youth
  • Paul compares faith to a fight or a contest. What kinds of struggles or challenges make it hard for you to live out your faith today?
  • How does believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth work together in your own faith journey? Which one feels harder for you?
  • Paul and Timothy gave a “good confession” even under pressure. What would it look like for you to give a “good confession” of your faith in Fairfax County—in school, with friends, or in your family?