1 Timothy 1:18-19

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. 1:19 To do this ⁴  you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.

[1:18]  ¹ sn This charge refers to the task Paul described to Timothy in vv. 3-7 above.

[1:18]  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.

[1:18]  ³ tn Grk “that by them you might fight…” (a reference to the prophecies which can encourage him in his work).

[1:19]  ⁴ tn In Greek this continues the same sentence from v. 18, a participle showing the means by which Timothy will accomplish his task: Grk “fight the good fight, holding firmly…”