1 Timotius 1:18

1:18 I put this charge ¹  before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, ²  in order that with such encouragement ³  you may fight the good fight.

1 Timotius 4:14

4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, ⁴  given to you and confirmed by prophetic words ⁵  when the elders laid hands on you. ⁶ 

1 Timotius 6:12

6:12 Compete well ⁷  for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession ⁸  for ⁹  in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timotius 6:14

6:14 to obey ¹⁰  this command ¹¹  without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ

[1:18]  ¹ sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.

[1:18]  ² sn The prophecies once spoken about you were apparently spoken at Timothy’s ordination (cf. 1 Tim 4:14) and perhaps spoke of what God would do through him. Thus they can encourage him in his work, as the next clause says.

[1:18]  ³ tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work).

[4:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “in you.”

[4:14]  ⁵ tn Grk “which was given to you through prophecy.” Here as in 2:15 the preposition “through” denotes not “means” but accompanying circumstances: “accompanied by prophecy.”

[4:14]  sn These prophetic words perhaps spoke of what God would do through Timothy in his ministry (cf. 1 Tim 1:18).

[4:14]  ⁶ tn Grk “with the imposition of the hands of the presbytery” (i.e., the council of elders).

[6:12]  ⁷ tn This phrase literally means “compete in the good competition of the faith,” using words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”

[6:12]  ⁸ sn At some point in Timothy’s life, he publicly acknowledged Jesus as the resurrected Lord, perhaps either at his baptism or his ordination as a minister of the gospel. With this reminder of the historical moment of his good confession, Timothy is encouraged to remain steadfast in his faith and to finish his life as a minister in the same way it began (see G. W. Knight, Pastoral Epistles [NIGTC], 264-65).

[6:12]  ⁹ tn Grk “confessed the good confession.”

[6:14]  ¹⁰ tn The Greek word τηρέω (threw, traditionally translated “keep”) in this context connotes preservation of and devotion to an object as well as obedience.

[6:14]  ¹¹ tn Grk “the command.”

[6:14]  sn The command refers to the duties laid upon Timothy for his ministry in Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3-20; 6:2c-5).