Charge to Timothy: Pursue Godliness and Guard the Faith
1 Timothy 6:11-21
1Tim.6.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Συ: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ανθρωπε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- φευγε·διωκε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- δε: CONJ
- δικαιοσυνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ευσεβειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υπομονην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πραυπαθιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- 2 Timothy 2:22 (verbal): Uses the same command pattern—'flee' the passions and 'pursue' virtues (righteousness, faith, love, peace)—closely echoing 1 Tim 6:11 language and emphasis.
- Titus 2:11-12 (thematic): Describes the effect of God's grace in leading believers to renounce ungodliness and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives—parallel call to flee sin and pursue godliness and righteousness.
- Galatians 5:22-23 (verbal): Lists Spirit-produced virtues (love, patience/longsuffering, gentleness/praitēs) that overlap lexical and ethical elements of 1 Tim 6:11's catalogue.
- 2 Peter 1:5-7 (structural): Presents a sequential list of virtues to be added to faith (e.g., faith → virtue → self-control → steadfastness → godliness → brotherly affection → love), paralleling the catalogue-of-virtues structure and ethical progression in 1 Tim 6:11.
- Hebrews 12:14 (thematic): Commands believers to 'pursue peace and holiness'—echoing 1 Tim 6:11's imperative to pursue righteousness and godliness as essential marks of the Christian life.
Alternative generated candidates
- But you, man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness.
- But you, man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.
1Tim.6.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αγωνιζου: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- καλον: ADJ,nom/acc,sg,neut
- αγωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πιστεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- επιλαβου: VERB,aor,mid,imp,2,sg
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αιωνιου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- ζωης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εκληθης: VERB,aor,pass,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- ωμολογησας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καλην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- ομολογιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ενωπιον: PREP
- πολλων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- μαρτυρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- 2 Timothy 4:7 (verbal): Paul’s declaration “I have fought the good fight” echoes the same contest/struggle language and affirms faithful perseverance like 1 Tim 6:12’s exhortation to fight the good fight of faith.
- Hebrews 12:1-2 (structural): Uses athletic imagery (running the race, laying aside weights, endurance) to urge believers to persevere and fix eyes on Christ—parallel to the call to struggle for faith and seize eternal life.
- Philippians 3:14 (thematic): Paul’s pursuit of the prize and pressing toward the heavenly call corresponds to 1 Tim 6:12’s charge to seize the eternal life to which believers were called.
- Romans 10:9-10 (verbal): The emphasis on confessing with the mouth and believing in the heart relates to 1 Tim 6:12’s mention of having made a ‘good confession’—linking public confession with salvation/identity in Christ.
- Matthew 10:32 (allusion): Jesus’ promise to confess before the Father those who confess him before others connects with 1 Tim 6:12’s stress on confessing the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Alternative generated candidates
- Fight the good fight of the faith; seize the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession before many witnesses.
- Fight the good fight of the faith; seize the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession before many witnesses.
1Tim.6.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παραγγελλω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- ενωπιον: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ζωογονουντος: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μαρτυρησαντος: PART,aor,act,gen,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- Ποντιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Πιλατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καλην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- ομολογιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Timothy 5:21 (verbal): Uses the same charging formula 'I charge you before God and Christ Jesus' (with minor additions), echoing the Pauline invocation present in 6:13.
- Acts 17:25 (verbal): Speaks of God as the one who 'gives to all life and breath and everything,' paralleling 6:13's description 'God, who gives life to all things.'
- 1 Timothy 6:12 (structural): Immediate intra-epistolary parallel: 6:12 also speaks of the 'good confession' and holding fast the confession of faith—thematic continuation of the testimony motif in 6:13.
- John 18:37 (allusion): John's account of Jesus' testimony before Pilate ('for this I was born... to bear witness to the truth') parallels 6:13's reference to Christ's witnessing before Pontius Pilate the 'good confession.'
Alternative generated candidates
- I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate made the good confession:
- I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate made the good confession:
1Tim.6.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τηρησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εντολην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ασπιλον: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- ανεπιλημπτον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- μεχρι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- επιφανειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Titus 2:13 (verbal): Both texts speak of awaiting 'the appearing' (ἐπιφάνειαν) of our Lord Jesus Christ as the eschatological horizon for faithful conduct.
- 2 Timothy 4:8 (thematic): Paul speaks of loving and awaiting the Lord's appearing and the crown of righteousness—parallel emphasis on faithful endurance until Christ's return.
- Hebrews 9:28 (thematic): Describes Christ's future appearing and links that coming to salvation/hope for those who wait—similar eschatological expectation grounding ethical perseverance.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16 (thematic): Calls believers to holiness and blameless conduct ('be holy')—parallel moral exhortation to keep the commandment 'unstained and blameless.'
- Philippians 3:20–21 (thematic): Believers await the Savior from heaven and transformation at his appearing—connects the hope of Christ's return with present conduct and destiny.
Alternative generated candidates
- keep this command without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- keep the commandment without reproach and free from stain until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Tim.6.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- καιροις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ιδιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- δειξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μακαριος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- μονος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- δυναστης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βασιλευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- βασιλευοντων: PART,pres,act,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κυριευοντων: PART,pres,act,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 19:16 (verbal): Uses the identical title 'King of kings and Lord of lords' applied to the exalted Christ, echoing the sovereign royal language of 1 Tim 6:15.
- Revelation 17:14 (verbal): Again the exact phrase 'King of kings and Lord of lords' appears; both passages present ultimate sovereign rule over all earthly powers.
- Daniel 4:17 (thematic): Declares that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men and appoints rulers—a Jewish antecedent theme of divine sovereignty behind the New Testament's 'King of kings' language.
- Philippians 2:9-11 (thematic): Describes the exaltation of Jesus and universal confession of his lordship, thematically parallel to 1 Tim 6:15's affirmation of Christ's supreme kingship and lordship.
- Jude 1:25 (allusion): Doxology to 'the only God' (through Jesus Christ) resonates with 1 Tim 6:15's phrase 'the blessed and only Potentate,' linking the exclusive, singular divine sovereignty language.
Alternative generated candidates
- He will display it at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
- which he will display at the proper time—he who is blessed and the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
1Tim.6.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μονος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- αθανασιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- φως: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- οικων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- απροσιτον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- ιδειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- δυναται·ω: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- τιμη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- κρατος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αιωνιον·αμην: ADJ,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- 1 Timothy 1:17 (verbal): Doxological language very close to 6:16—both call God 'the only' and speak of immortality/invisibility and ascribe honor and eternal praise.
- John 1:18 (verbal): Explicit statement that 'no one has ever seen God' and identifies the Son as the one who reveals the Father, paralleling 6:16's claim that God 'whom no one has seen or can see.'
- Exodus 33:20 (thematic): God's unapproachability and the impossibility of seeing his face ('you cannot see my face...') provides the OT background for 6:16's 'unseen' and 'unapproachable light' motif.
- Colossians 1:15 (thematic): Affirms Christ as the image of the invisible God, engaging the same issue in 6:16 of God's invisibility and how God's being is related to revelation in Christ.
- Jude 25 (structural): A doxology to the 'only God' with language of glory, majesty, dominion, and eternal praise that parallels 6:16's ascription of honor and eternal rule; similar liturgical/epistolary conclusion.
Alternative generated candidates
- He alone possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; no one has seen him or can see him. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
- who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
1Tim.6.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- πλουσιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- νυν: ADV
- αιωνι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- παραγγελλε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- μη: PART
- υψηλοφρονειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- μηδε: CONJ
- ηλπικεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- επι: PREP
- πλουτου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αδηλοτητι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αλλ᾽επι: CONJ+PREP
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- παρεχοντι: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- πλουσιως: ADV
- εις: PREP
- απολαυσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (structural): Immediate context in the same passage warning that the desire for wealth leads to ruin and that the love of money is root of all kinds of evil—supports the command not to set hope on riches.
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus urges not to store up earthly treasures and teaches that where your treasure is, there your heart will be—parallel admonition against trusting in wealth.
- Luke 12:15-21 (thematic): Parable of the rich fool who trusts in his possessions and is called foolish—illustrates the danger of placing hope in wealth rather than God.
- Proverbs 11:28 (verbal): "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall" echoes the warning in 1 Tim 6:17 against placing one's hope in uncertain wealth.
- Philippians 4:19 (verbal): Paul's assurance that God will supply every need 'according to his riches' parallels the encouragement to put hope in God 'who richly provides us with everything.'
Alternative generated candidates
- As for those who are rich in this present age, command them not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly gives us all things for our enjoyment.
- As for the rich in this present age, instruct them not to be arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
1Tim.6.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αγαθοεργειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- πλουτειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εν: PREP
- εργοις: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- καλοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- ευμεταδοτους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- κοινωνικους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 13:16 (verbal): Uses nearly the same injunction—'do good and share'—and links doing good and sharing with offerings pleasing to God, echoing the instruction to be generous and ready to share.
- Galatians 6:10 (thematic): Urges believers to 'do good to all, especially to the household of faith,' paralleling the call to be active in good works toward others.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (thematic): Encourages generous, bountiful, and cheerful giving with the promise of God's provision—complements 1 Tim 6:18's emphasis on richness in good works and generosity.
- Titus 3:14 (verbal): Directs Christians to 'devote themselves to good works' so they can meet urgent needs, reflecting the same injunction to be engaged in good deeds and helpful distribution.
- Luke 3:11 (thematic): John's call to share possessions with the needy ('Whoever has two tunics...') exemplifies the concrete practice of generosity and readiness to share found in 1 Tim 6:18.
Alternative generated candidates
- Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,
- Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,
1Tim.6.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αποθησαυριζοντας: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εαυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- θεμελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- καλον: ADJ,nom/acc,sg,neut
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μελλον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ινα: CONJ
- επιλαβωνται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,pl
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- οντως: ADV
- ζωης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus' teaching to "store up treasure in heaven" parallels the image of storing up a good foundation for the future; both contrast present actions with future, heavenly benefit.
- Luke 12:33-34 (thematic): Like Matthew, Luke exhorts believers to sell possessions and 'provide yourselves purses in heaven,' echoing the idea of investing now for a future, truly valuable life.
- 1 Timothy 6:12 (verbal): Immediate Pauline parallel within the letter: both verses urge believers to seize/hold ('κατασχων' / 'επιλαβωνται') the life that is genuine or eternal, linking present conduct to possession of true life.
- Hebrews 6:19 (thematic): The image of a secured future hope ('an anchor of the soul') echoes the idea of laying up a firm foundation for what is to come—the assured reality of salvation and life.
- Titus 1:2 (thematic): Titus speaks of the 'hope of eternal life' promised by God, paralleling 1 Tim 6:19's concern with preparing and securing the true (eternal) life to come.
Alternative generated candidates
- storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
- thus storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may take hold of true life.
1Tim.6.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ω: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- Τιμοθεε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- παραθηκην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- φυλαξον: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- εκτρεπομενος: PART,pres,mid,nom,sg,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- βεβηλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- κενοφωνιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- αντιθεσεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ψευδωνυμου: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- γνωσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- 2 Timothy 1:14 (verbal): Uses the same verb and image of guarding the 'deposit' (paratheke) — 'Guard the deposit entrusted to you' — a close verbal parallel about protecting entrusted teaching.
- Colossians 2:8 (thematic): Warns against being taken captive by 'philosophy and empty deceit' rooted in human tradition, paralleling the warning here against 'empty babblings' and false knowledge.
- Jude 1:3 (thematic): Urges believers to 'contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,' echoing the call to guard the apostolic deposit against corrupting influences and false teachers.
- 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (structural): Earlier instruction to Timothy to oppose 'strange doctrines' and 'myths and endless genealogies' connects structurally and thematically to avoiding vain talk and false knowledge in 6:20.
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (thematic): Predicts a time when people will turn away from sound teaching to 'teachers to suit their own passions' and accumulate myths — similar dynamics to the 'contradictions' and pseudo-knowledge warned against in 6:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you; avoid profane and empty babblings and the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,
- O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you; avoid profane, empty chatter and the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,
1Tim.6.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τινες: PRON,nom,pl,m
- επαγγελλομενοι: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,pl
- περι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ηστοχησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- Η: ART,nom,sg,fem
- χαρις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μεθ᾽υμων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- 1 Tim 1:19 (verbal): Same letter and theme: speaks of holding faith with a good conscience and of some who have put away the faith and been shipwrecked — closely parallels ‘some have erred concerning the faith.’
- 2 Tim 2:18 (thematic): Mentions Hymenaeus and Philetus who ‘have erred concerning the truth’ (teaching that Christ has already risen); thematically parallels false teachers’ error about the faith.
- Jude 4 (thematic): Speaks of certain intruders who pervert the faith/grace and deny Christ — a broader NT warning about persons who go astray from the faith, echoing 1 Tim 6:21’s observation.
- 2 Tim 4:22 (verbal): Shares the same closing grace-salutation formula (‘Grace be with you’ / Ἡ χάρις μετὰ ὑμῶν), paralleling the letter’s benediction.
Alternative generated candidates
- by professing which some have missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
- which some, professing it, have wandered away from the faith. Grace be with you.
But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith; seize eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession before many witnesses.
I charge you before God—who gives life to all—and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate made the good confession:
keep the commandment without spot or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will display it at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
He alone possesses immortality, dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
As for those who are rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
storing up for themselves a firm foundation for the coming age, that they may take hold of what is truly life.
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid profane and idle babblings and the oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,
by professing which some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.