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Fight The Good Fight - 1 Tim. 6:12
Fight The Good Fight - 1 Tim. 6:12
This history of Israel is a history of wars and fighting. In the years leading up to the coming of Jesus, the area of Israel was a constant battlefield. There were very few years of peace. The land had been recently conquered by Rome and was being ruled by Rome through its army. Everywhere throughout the land (and the whole of the empire), soldiers were present to enforce the will of the Emperor. This led to constant uprisings as the Jews tried time and again to overthrow such domination. Into this war zone came Jesus.
We see then that the image of war, soldiers, armor, weapons, and fighting are used rather often in the images of the New Testament. There is simply no denying (and no desire to do so) that we as Christians are in a war. Yet this must be qualified in that it is a spiritual war. As Paul would state:
Our struggle is against “rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” Our armor is truth, righteousness, faith, prayer, and the word of God – the sword of the Spirit, the gospel of Peace. (read again Eph. 4:12-19).
The battle is for a way of thinking, the challenging and changing of minds. We “are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2Cor. 10:3-5). In this battle, our OWN minds and thoughts are the first battleground. Hence the instructions to Timothy so often centered on HIS responsibilities.
Timothy was to ‘fight the good fight’ (1:18; 6:12). He was to be single-minded service as a good soldier (2Tim. 2:3f). Hence the first battle for Timothy is to ‘keep faith and a good conscience’. Notice Paul’s instructions on being a good servant in 1Tim. 4:6f:
- He is to be constantly nourished on the words of faith and the sound doctrine.
- He is to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness.
- He is to be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
- He is to take pains with these things; to be absorbed in them.
- He is to pay close attention to himself and to his teaching.
- He is to persevere in these things.
Again, in chapter 6, Paul instructs him to flee from these things (note vs. 4-10 – envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, a desire to get rich); and to instead “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness” (1Tim. 6:11).
Such personal responsibilities as a disciple of Jesus continue in 2 Timothy. He is to be diligent to present himself approved to God as a workman – rightly dividing the word of truth, but also avoiding worldly and empty chatter (2:15-16). He is to abstain from wickedness (2:19). He is to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace (2:22). He must not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition (2:24). He has been following Paul’s teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecution, and sufferings (3:10) and is to continue in such (3:14). With such preparation and continued diligence and attention to self, Timothy is qualified to preach the word, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and patience.
This is the nature of fighting the good fight of faith. The greatest battle for me is over MY mind and thoughts, my character, my conduct, my faithfulness unto Jesus. THEN I can be prepared to help others in this war.
What manner of soldier are you?
Hugh DeLong
