1 Timothy 6:11-21

Final Exhortation And Teaching (1 Timothy 6:11-21 ).

Paul closes his letter with a further charge to Timothy (compare 1 Timothy 1:5), followed by a reference to the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and a further description of the glory of God (compare 1 Timothy 1:17), and ending with a warning against getting ensnared in the teaching of false prophets, which is where his letter began (1 Timothy 1:3-4). Incorporated within it is an powerful exhortation to Timothy to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life, and a call to him set the church on the right road for the future, so that they too might set their hope on God (compare 1 Timothy 4:10) and similarly lay hold on that life, which is life indeed.

Analysis.

a But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:11).

b Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, to which you were called, and did confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12).

c I charge you in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession, that you keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:13-14).

d Which in its own times he will show (1 Timothy 6:15 a).

e Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15 b).

f Who only has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable

e Whom no man has seen, nor can see (1 Timothy 6:16 a).

d To Whom be honour and power eternal. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16 b).

c Charge those who are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

b Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed (1 Timothy 6:19).

a O Timothy, guard what is committed to you, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called, which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

Note that in ‘a’ he is to flee these things and in contrast follow after what is godly, and in the parallel he is to guard what is committed to him and is to turn away from all that is false. In ‘b’ he is to lay hold on eternal life, and in the parallel is to lay hold on life which is life indeed. In ‘c’ he is given a solemn charge to obedience to God’s will, and in the parallel a further solemn charge to obedience to God’s will. In ‘d’ God will in His own time show the appearing of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and in the parallel to Him as a consequence will be honour and power eternal. In ‘e’ the glorious sovereign uniqueness of God is described and in the parallel the fact that He is beyond men’s ken, and centrally the uniqueness of His Being is described.

The Exhortation.

Paul commences this final section with an exhortation to flee from ‘these things’ that is the teaching, activities and wranglings of the false teachers, and the deceitfulness and entanglements of riches, and instead to follow after what is good, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (compare 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:3-4), so that he might finally ‘lay hold on eternal life’ both now and in the future (compare 1Ti 4:8 ; 1 Timothy 4:10. See also 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Timothy 6:19).

Analysis.

· But you, O man of God, flee these things (1 Timothy 6:11 a).

· And follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:11 b).

· Fight the good fight of the faith (1 Timothy 6:12 a).

· Lay hold on the life eternal, to which you were called (1 Timothy 6:12 b).

· And did confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12 c).

Note that in ‘a’ he is declared to be a ‘man of God, and in the parallel he is one who made a good confession. In ‘b he is to follow after all the Christian virtues and in the parallel he is to lay hold on eternal life. Centrally in ‘c’ he is to fight the good fight of faith.