1 Timothy 6:11-16

C. Those committed to Christ 6:11-16

Paul continued the emphasis he began in the previous section (1 Timothy 6:3-10) by appealing to Timothy to pursue spiritual rather than physical goals in his life. He seems to have intended his instructions for all the faithful Ephesian Christians in view of what he just said in 1 Timothy 6:3 through 10. He addressed them to Timothy personally since he, as a leader of the church, had the greatest responsibility to set the example for the rest. Paul called on Timothy to persevere. This section is the climax of the epistle.

"In chaps. 1 and 4 Paul establishes the pattern of criticizing his opponents (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 4:1-5) and then following with words of encouragement to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:18-20; 1 Timothy 4:6-16), which include reference to Timothy’s spiritual beginnings (1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 4:14). He repeats this same pattern here." [Note: Mounce, p. 351.]