1 Timothy 6 · Verse 12

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12, King James Version

1 Timothy 6:12 in other translations

BSB	Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
WEB	Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
ASV	Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
YLT	be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses.
DARBY	Strive earnestly in the good conflict of faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
BBE	Be fighting the good fight of the faith; take for yourself the life eternal, for which you were marked out, and of which you gave witness in the eyes of all.
Webster	Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

What does 1 Timothy 6:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. Fight the good fight--Birks thinks this Epistle was written from Corinth, where contests in the national games recurred at stated seasons, which will account for the allusion here as in 1Co 9:24-26. Contrast "strifes of words" (1Ti 6:4). Compare 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 4:7. The "good profession" is connected with the good fight (Psa 60:4). lay hold on eternal life--the crown, or garland, the prize of victory, laid hold of by the winner in the "good fight" (2Ti 4:7, 8; Php 3:12-14). "Fight (literally, 'strive') with such striving earnestness as to lay hold on the prize, eternal life." also--not in the oldest manuscripts. professed a good profession--Greek, "didst confess THE good confession," namely, the Christian confession (as the Greek word is the same in this verse as that for "confession" in 1Ti 6:13, probably the profession here is the confession that Christ's kingdom is the kingdom of the truth, Joh 18:36, 37), at thy being set apart to thy ministerial function (whether in general, or as overseer at Ephesus): the same occasion as is referred to in 1Ti 1:18; 4:14; 2Ti 1:4. before many witnesses--who would testify against thee if thou shouldest fall away [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. Fight the good fight of faith. The noble conflict in the cause of religion, Eph 6:10-17. 1Cor 9:26; 1Cor 9:27. The allusion is to the contests at the Grecian games.

Lay hold on eternal life. As the crown of victory that is held out to you. Seize this as eagerly as the competitors at the Grecian games laid hold on the prize. 1Cor 9:25.

Whereunto thou art also called. That is, by the Spirit of God, and by the very nature of your profession. God does not 'call' his people that they may become rich; he does not convert them in order that they may devote themselves to the business of gain. They are 'called' to a higher and nobler work. Yet how many professing Christians there are who seem to live as if God had 'called' them to the special business of making money, and who devote themselves to it with a zeal and assiduity that would do honour to such a calling, if this had been the grand object which God had in view in converting them!

And hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. That is, either when he embraced the Christian religion, and made a public profession of it in the presence of the church and of the world; or when he was solemnly set apart to the ministry; or as he, in his Christian life, had been enabled publicly to evince his attachment to the Saviour. I see no reason to doubt that the apostle may have referred to the former, and that in early times a profession of religion may have been openly made before the church and the world. Such a method of admitting members to the church would have been natural, and would have been fitted to make a deep impression on others. It is a good thing often to remind professors of religion, of the feelings which they had when they made a profession of religion; of the fact that the transaction was witnessed by the world; and of the promises which they then made to lead holy lives. One of the best ways of stimulating ourselves or others to the faithful performance of duty, is the remembrance of the vows then made; and one of the most effectual methods of reclaiming a backslider, is to bring to his remembrance that solemn hour when he publicly gave himself to God.

(d) "Fight the good fight" 2Ti 4:7. (e) "good profession" Heb 13:23 (+) "profession" "confessed a good profession"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 Fight the good fight of faith - "Agonize the good agony." Thou hast a contest to sustain in which thy honor, thy life, thy soul, are at stake. Live the Gospel, and defend the cause of God. Unmask hypocrites, expel the profligate, purge and build up the Church, live in the spirit of thy religion, and give thyself wholly to this work. Lay hold on eternal life - All this is in allusion to the exercises in the public Grecian games: Fight, conquer, and seize upon the prize; carry off the crown of eternal life! Whereunto thou art also called - The allusion to the public games is still carried on: Thou hast been called into this palaestra; thou hast been accepted as one proper to enter the lists with any antagonists that may offer; in the presence of many witnesses thou hast taken the necessary engagements upon thee, and submitted to be governed by the laws of the stadium; many eyes are upon thee, to see whether thou wilt fight manfully, and be faithful. Timothy's faith was undoubtedly tried by severe persecution. In Heb 13:23, it is said: Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty. Hence it appears that he was imprisoned for the testimony of Christ, and perhaps it was then, more than at his ordination, that he made the good confession here mentioned. He risked his life and conquered. If not a martyr, he was a confessor.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:11-16

It ill becomes any men, but especially men of God, to set their hearts upon the things of this world; men of God should be taken up with the things of God. There must be a conflict with corruption, and temptations, and the powers of darkness. Eternal life is the crown proposed for our encouragement. We are called to lay hold thereon. To the rich must especially be pointed out their dangers and duties, as to the…

Read the full comment on 1 Timothy 6:11-16 →

1 Timothy 6:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀγωνίζουagōnizoudo fightG75

τὸνtontheG3588

καλὸνkalongoodG2570

ἀγῶναagōnafightG73

τῆςtēsof theG3588

πίστεως,pisteōsfaith,G4102

ἐπιλαβοῦepilaboudo lay holdG1949

τῆςtēsof theG3588

αἰωνίουaiōnioueternalG166

ζωῆςzōēslifeG2222

εἰςeistoG1519

ἣνhēnwhichG3739

ἐκλήθηςeklēthēsyou were calledG2564

καὶkaiandG2532

ὡμολόγησαςhōmologēsasdid confessG3670

τὴνtēntheG3588

καλὴνkalēngoodG2570

ὁμολογίανhomologianconfessionG3671

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

πολλῶνpollōnmanyG4183

μαρτύρων.¶marturōnwitnesses.G3144

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 6:12

1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1 Corinthians 9:25-26
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. …
Philippians 3:12-14
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
1 Timothy 6:13
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Fight.
1:18; Zec 10:5; 1Co 9:25,26; 2Co 6:7; 10:3-5; Eph 6:10-18; 1Th 5:8,9
2Ti 4:7
lay.
19; Ps 63:8; Pr 3:18; So 3:4; Php 3:12-14; Heb 3:14; 6:18; 1Jo 2:25
Re 3:3
whereunto.
Ro 8:28-30; 9:23,24; Col 3:15; 1Th 2:12; 2Th 2:14; 2Ti 1:9; 1Pe 3:9
1Pe 5:10
hast.
13; De 26:3,17-19; Isa 44:5; Lu 12:8,9; Ro 10:9,10; Heb 13:23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:13
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

Read all of 1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Pelea la buena batalla de la fe, echa mano de la vida eterna, á la cual asimismo eres llamado, habiendo hecho buena profesión delante de muchos testigos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	combats le bon combat de la foi; saisis la vie éternelle, pour laquelle tu as été appelé et tu as fait la belle confession devant beaucoup de témoins.
German Elberfelder 1871	Kämpfe den guten Kampf des Glaubens; ergreife das ewige Leben, zu welchem du berufen worden bist und bekannt hast das gute Bekenntnis vor vielen Zeugen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Certa bonum certamen fidei, apprehende vitam æternam, in qua vocatus es, et confessus bonam confessionem coram multis testibus.