1 Timothy– Chapter Six XXIV

by Ed Urzi

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

One of the characteristic elements of Paul the Apostle’s New Testament letters involves his use of athletic metaphors. In light of this, it should not surprise us to find that Paul employed a boxing reference as he encouraged Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith…”

In addition to what we read here in 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul also employed the imagery of a boxer in the Biblical book of 1 Corinthians. In that portion of Scripture, Paul used the example of a prizefighter to communicate the importance of qualities like focus, purpose, and determination as they relate to a life that honors Christ…

“So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NLT).

Perhaps the best known use of this illustration is found in some of Paul’s final recorded words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Here in 1 Timothy 6:12, the word “fight” connotes the following idea: “to contend with adversaries… to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something.” (1) Much like a prizefighter in the ring with an opponent, “The word Fight (Gr agonizomai) is an athletic term meaning ‘to engage in a contest.’ This contest is the whole life of the believer striving to win ‘the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:13). It is a good fight whereas the fight for money is evil (vs. 10).” (2)

In a similar manner, Paul made use of a racing analogy in Galatians 5:7 when he wrote, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7 NIV). This illustration recalls an old saying with many applications: “It’s not how you start the race but how you finish that counts.” Finally, Paul will also employ this imagery in the Biblical letter of 2 Timothy: “…if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5).

So much like those who sought to excel in competitive athletic events, Paul urged Timothy to adopt a similar attitude in regard to God’s call upon his life.

(1) G75 agonizomai Thayer’s Greek Lexicon https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g75

(2) Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2506). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.