1 Timothy 4:16

4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. ¹  Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

1 Timothy 6:12

6:12 Compete well ²  for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession ³  for ⁴  in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:20

Conclusion

6:20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid ⁵  the profane chatter and absurdities ⁶  of so-called “knowledge.” ⁷ 

[4:16]  ¹ tn Grk “about yourself and your teaching.”

[6:12]  ² tn This phrase literally means “compete in the good competition of the faith,” using words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”

[6:12]  ³ sn At some point in Timothy’s life, he publicly acknowledged Jesus as the resurrected Lord, perhaps either at his baptism or his ordination as a minister of the gospel. With this reminder of the historical moment of his good confession, Timothy is encouraged to remain steadfast in his faith and to finish his life as a minister in the same way it began (see G. W. Knight, Pastoral Epistles [NIGTC], 264-65).

[6:12]  ⁴ tn Grk “confessed the good confession.”

[6:20]  ³ tn Grk “avoiding.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[6:20]  ⁴ tn Or “contradictions.”

[6:20]  ⁵ tn Grk “the falsely named knowledge.”