1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
Paul entrusts this charge to Timothy, his son in the gospel, according to the prophecies that went before concerning him, so that by them he might wage a good spiritual warfare, with those prophecies to encourage and strengthen him. The charge is joined to holding faith and a good conscience, and putting them away brings shipwreck concerning faith, so warring the good warfare means charging some to teach no other doctrine, refusing fables and endless questionings, and keeping charity from a pure heart with faith unfeigned. The Christian life and service is a good and holy warfare against sin, evil, falsity, and wickedness, constantly fighting the fight of faith against the determined temptations of the enemy and against doubts and questionings. To war this warfare is to break fully with the enemy and take a decided stand wholly on the Lord's side, putting on the whole armor of righteousness in watchfulness and prayer, resisting the devil, pressing the battle to the gates, and serving God and others earnestly, self-sacrificingly, and steadfastly in reliance on Christ for strength. Those who press through difficulties without yielding, lay hold on eternal life, and remain faithful and diligent will overcome at last and come off victorious together, entering the city of God to see Jesus and live in His presence and receive the crown of life eternal.
Charge According to Prophecy
Paul commits this charge to Timothy, his son in the gospel, according to the prophecies which went before on him, that by them he might war a good warfare, with those prophecies to encourage and strengthen him for faithful spiritual warfare. The charge is joined to holding faith and a good conscience, and putting away faith and a good conscience makes shipwreck concerning faith. Warring the good warfare by them means charging some to teach no other doctrine, not giving heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying in faith, keeping charity out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned, and not swerving aside unto vain jangling. It calls for standing firm, having done all, remaining grounded in Scripture and guarding the faith when men apostatize, depart from Bible truth, teach false doctrine, make false statements, and follow a spurious sanctification. It is a warning against false prophets and false teachers who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves whose work is to tear down what God is building up, and Hymenaeus and Alexander stand as examples of those who resist the truth and make shipwreck, showing that disregarded light gives way to greater darkness and bearing on the rejection of God's messages.
The charge is to carry out the work entrusted to him by upholding and proclaiming Heaven-revealed truth against opposition, faithfully delivering God's message without diminishing it, whether people accept it or not. The words of God's servants connected with this charge can be remembered and passed on even by very young children, whose simple words and service for Christ can influence others.
Holding Faith and Conscience
The charge to wage a good warfare is joined to holding faith and a good conscience, and putting away faith and a good conscience leads to shipwreck concerning faith. The prophecies that went before on Timothy were to encourage and strengthen him to fight that spiritual warfare by them. Christian life itself is presented as this good warfare, fought by holding faith and a good conscience.
Warring the good warfare in this setting means charging some to teach no other doctrine. It means not giving heed to fables and endless genealogies that minister questions rather than godly edifying in faith. It means keeping charity out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned, and not swerving aside unto vain jangling.
The charge is a warning against false prophets and false teachers who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves. Their work is to tear down what God is building up. It calls for standing firm, having done all, when men apostatize, depart from Bible truth, teach false doctrine, make false statements, and follow a spurious sanctification. Believers must remain grounded in Scripture and guard the faith rather than be led away by deceptive doctrines.
The danger is illustrated by Hymenaeus and Alexander as examples of those who resist the truth and make shipwreck. Disregarded light gives way to greater darkness. The verse thus bears on the rejection of God's messages.
Warring a Good Warfare
The Christian life and Christian service is a good and holy warfare against sin, evil, falsity, and wickedness, a constant fighting of the fight of faith against the determined temptations of the enemy and against doubts and questionings. It is active obedience to Christ in which abilities are used in the struggle, the enemy's influence is resisted, and righteousness is taken up while falsity and wickedness are resisted in oneself and in others. The fight is carried on by serving God, other people, and truth, answering the call of duty with endurance rather than growing weary or discouraged.
To war this warfare is to break fully with the enemy, take a decided position wholly on the Lord's side, obey Christ, and enlist with the soldiers of Jesus Christ and heavenly angels. It is to cling to Jesus and trust Him as leader through dangers and conflicts whose purpose may not be seen, making wise plans under His direction and acting with faith and courage. Seeking God with all the heart belongs to this enlistment.
The warfare requires putting on the armor, even the whole armor of righteousness, and pressing the battle to the gates. It requires living a life of watchfulness and prayer, asking Christ for spiritual discernment, and resisting the devil until he flees. The enemy is to be given no control over thoughts or actions, there is to be no association with those who would entangle the soul in skepticism and unbelief, especially for one weak in that direction, and there is to be a ceasing to find fault and criticize brethren and a laying of no stumbling blocks.
It is to be engaged earnestly, self-sacrificingly, heroically and steadfastly like valiant soldiers, with cheerfulness, hope, and faith, using one's abilities and relying on God for strength and grace, since Jesus is strength and support. Watchfulness and prayer are needed to resist Satan and gain victory, and faithfulness and diligence are required because one person's unfaithfulness or slothfulness can influence others. Putting on the armor to war this warfare brings greater and still greater ability as one strives to perfect the knowledge of God while working in harmony with the plan God has laid down for the perfect development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers.
The good warfare is warred upon the earth by the church below united with the church above, carried on under grand instruction going forth from the Holy of Holies with Christ officiating in the sanctuary and angels communicating to men and working in human hearts. It requires purifying of the soul here upon the earth in harmony with Christ's cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven, with following Christ into the sanctuary, after which there is seeing more clearly and knowing as known.
The warfare is waged together as pilgrims and strangers through shared suffering, toil, and labor, living wholly for God. It is waged by loving souls, seeking their success in overcoming, being a savor of life unto life to save them, and working to save others in a world perishing in sin as co-laborers with Christ with angels ministering. It includes making most earnest efforts to bring others into the truth soundly converted so they bring others to knowledge of the truth, raise up churches, and bring scores to Christ, seeking to get all possible into glory.
Those who press through difficulties without yielding, lay hold on eternal life, and remain faithful and diligent will overcome at last and come off victorious together, sharing in victory and receiving the eternal reward. This is pursued with respect unto the recompense of reward and prizing heaven, because to lose heaven is to lose everything. It is resting together in the city of God, entering through the gates with all the nations who have kept the truth, seeing Jesus and living in His presence, praising Him together, being crowned together with the crown of life eternal, and entering with the joy of the Lord, and even one who has wasted opportunities can seek pardon and ask God for strength to fight faithfully.