Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.

Today, we continue the study of the Book of 1 Timothy chapter 6.

6:12 The good fight concerns the daily struggle with sin in the Christian life, and the hardships and adversities in the ministry. A genuine believer demonstrates the reality of his faith by being engaged in this warfare. Lay hold on eternal life does not negate the fact that a believer now possesses spiritual life (John 3:36); rather, it speaks of full realizing or appropriating salvation as the believer matures.

6:13 A charge is a command. Quickeneth contains the idea of giving life to. Since God gives life to all things, He can also enable Timothy to "fight the good fight" (verse 12).

6:14 This commandment refers back to the charge in verse 13 which embraces the injunctions of verses 11, 12. Thus, "this commandment" is the charge to pursue godliness (verse 11) and to fulfill ones ministry (verse 12). Without spot, unrebukable means Timothy is to be meticulous in his obedience of verses 11-13, that is, without fault, and failure in compliance.

6:15 We may read the first part of the verse, "Which [Jesus' appearing of 6:14] He will make visible at the proper time." A Potentate is a sovereign ruler.

6:17, 18 Paul charges wealthy believers (1) not to be proud and look down on those who are not rich,(2) to confide in God rather than in unstable riches,(3) to be rich in good works by generously sharing their surplus of financial resources with the needy. To be ready to distribute is to be generous in sharing. To be willing to communicate is to be liberal in giving.

6:19 When wealthy believers generously share (verse 18), they secure an assurance (laying up in store for themselves a good foundation) that in the future (against the time to come) they will indeed enter heaven (lay hold on eternal life). Salvation is not purchased by the giving of money, but generosity demonstrates the reality of one's faith. Since the believer trusts God and not money, he gives. This giving shows where his heart is and that he views his wealth in light of eternity.

6:20 That which is committed to Timothy's trust is a knowledge of the trust imparted by Paul. He is to keep or guard it. To ensure this, Timothy must turn away from vain babblings [empty talk devoid of truth], and oppositions (heretical arguments used to oppose truth).

6:21 Those who erred went astray from the truth.

Yours in Jesus Christ,

Bishop William B. Caractor