1 Timothy 6:12
12 Fight [agonizomai] the good [kalos] fight [agon] of faith, [pistis] lay hold
on [epilambanomai]
eternal [aionios]
life, [zoe] whereunto
[eis] [hos] thou art [kaleo] also [kai] called, [kaleo] and [kai] hast professed [homologeo] a good [kalos] profession [homologia] before [enopion] many [polus] witnesses. [martus] KJV-Interlinear
12 Fight the good fight of faith;
take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses. NASB
Take hold of eternal
life, means what exactly?To be
saved?To be saved over and over
again?
No.
Take hold, means to understand,
gain an understanding, get a life, get a grip on life, grow up and understand
what reality is all about.That life
applies to more than just this life, it applies to
your eternal existence which will follow this life.
And in that light, then
eternal life is a reference to just what eternal life really means.
Often times the Bible
will make the statement, Behold, or some other similar word which means
listen, look, learn, pay attention, and so forth.
Life is a battle between
good and evil.God represents good and
all that it offers (your success).Satan
represents evil and all that it offers (namely nothing, or your failure in
everything).
Paul refers to the
Christian life, "suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ
Jesus" (2 Tim 2:3).
Or, "I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim
4:7).
Both of these carry
military connotations.There are many
such examples in the Old Testament, in battles between the Israelites and their
enemies.
Unfortunately too many
people do not take their spiritual life seriously, or they discount it to
something of their own definition, or to something that is more convenient to
their way of life, without interfering in their worldly way of life. And as such they are no different than a
soldier or student that does not want to train or do homework.
The
result? They are not prepared for the fight, they are not prepared for life. They lose.
But Paul tells us all,
here, to fight the good fight.
Fight, agonaizomai, means to agonize. It was used to describe the concentration,
discipline, conviction, preparation and effort needed to win.
The second fight, agon, is from the same root as the verb. It refers to the spiritual conflict with
Satan's kingdom, in which the man of God must play his part. And you play your part by laying hold of your
eternal life.Namely seizing control of
and advancing in your spiritual life through a daily study of the scriptures,
through instruction.
Faith, here is a
reference to the sum total of your spiritual life. So, persevere and adhere, and pursue your
faith, your learning, your understanding, your growth to maturity.
And why are you to do
this?Because you were
called.And how were you
called?By means of the salvation and
spiritual life offered to you by God, in which you took for yourself through faith
(for salvation), and spiritual growth to maturity (through study after
salvation).
And in which you
profess the good profession.
To profess is to cite,
to name, to mention, to demonstrate.
The profession is your acknowledgement
by means of your doing what God wants you to do. Namely, to study, to learn,
to advance in your spiritual life.
And this is done before
many witnesses.Or
all of heaven.
Angels observe all that
humanity does.Angels observe your life
in its complete detail.And though there
may be some people who will see your life, they cannot see all of your
life.But heaven can. And in heaven there are millions, billions,
even trillions of angels who are a witness to your life.
You cannot explain away
your failures, because there are witnesses that know all of your tricks, and
gimmicks, rationales, and excuses
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