1 Timothy 6:11-12

6:11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, ¹  keep away from all that. ²  Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 6:12 Compete well ³  for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession ⁴  for ⁵  in the presence of many witnesses.

[6:11]  ¹ tn Grk “O man of God.”

[6:11]  ² tn Grk “flee these things.”

[6:12]  ³ 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]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Grk “confessed the good confession.”