1 Timothy 6:11-12 -- Action!

To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV):

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Notice all the action verbs here:

• flee
• pursue
• fight
• take hold

Christianity is not a passive religion as some think, but requires action and determination.

Timothy is to "flee from all this." The "all this" refers to verses 3-10. Timothy is to flee from:

• false doctrines
• being conceited
• understanding nothing
• an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words
• envy
• strife
• malicious talk
• evil suspicions
• constant friction
• a corrupt mind
• seeking godliness as a means to financial gain
• foolish and harmful desires
• ruin and destruction
• the love of money
• wandering from the faith
• grief

Instead, he is to pursue:

• righteousness
• godliness
• faith
• love
• endurance (steadfastness under adversity)
• gentleness

Compare that list to the list of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23:

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control

Also compare it to the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-3:

• above reproach
• the husband of but one wife
• temperate
• self-controlled
• respectable
• hospitable
• able to teach
• not given to drunkenness
• not violent but gentle
• not quarrelsome
• not a lover of money

Paul also tells Timothy: "Fight the good fight of the faith." The original Greek uses athletic imagery. That means that fighting the good fight requires more than just stepping into the ring for the event. There is a good amount of training that goes on before the fight. I think that's where we build those personal virtues listed in verse 11.

Paul says to "Take hold of the eternal life." Eternal life is not just for when you die. Take hold of it right now. Jesus came to bring you fulness of life.

The last part of verse 12--"when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses"--could refer to Timothy's ordination into ministry, but most likely it refers to his baptism. These words are not only meant for pastors and other paid professionals in ministry. These words are for every Christian.