1 Timothy 1:18

1:18 I put this charge ¹  before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, ²  in order that with such encouragement ³  you may fight the good fight.

1 Timothy 4:14

4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, ⁴  given to you and confirmed by prophetic words ⁵  when the elders laid hands on you. ⁶ 

¹ sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.

² sn The prophecies once spoken about you were apparently spoken at Timothy’s ordination (cf. 1 Tim 4:14) and perhaps spoke of what God would do through him. Thus they can encourage him in his work, as the next clause says.

³ tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work).

⁴ tn Grk “in you.”

⁵ tn Grk “which was given to you through prophecy.” Here as in 2:15 the preposition “through” denotes not “means” but accompanying circumstances: “accompanied by prophecy.”

⁶ tn Grk “with the imposition of the hands of the presbytery” (i.e., the council of elders).