Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Timothy 6:13

"I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;" — 1 Timothy 6:13 (ASV)

I give thee charge in the sight of God (see 1 Timothy 5:21).

Who quickeneth all things. Who gives life to all .

It is not quite clear why the apostle refers to this attribute of God as enforcing the charge that he makes here. Perhaps he means to say that God is the source of life, and that because God had given life to Timothy—natural and spiritual—he had a right to require that it should be employed in his service; and that, if, in obedience to this charge and in the performance of his duties, Timothy should be required to lay down his life, he should remember that God had power to raise him up again. This is more distinctly urged in 2 Timothy 2:8–10.

And before Christ Jesus. As in the presence of Christ, and stimulated by his example.

Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. The marginal reading is profession. The same Greek word is used that in 1 Timothy 6:12 is translated profession. The reference is to the fact that the Lord Jesus, when standing at the bar of Pilate, who claimed to have power over his life, did not shrink from an open avowal of the truth (John 18:36–37).

Nothing can be better fitted to preserve our minds steadfast in the faith, and to enable us to maintain our sacred vows in this world when allured by temptation, or when ridiculed for our religion, than to remember the example of the Lord Jesus. Let us place him before us as he stood at the bar of Pilate—threatened with death in its most appalling form, and ridiculed for the principles he maintained. Let us look on him, friendless and alone, and see with what seriousness, sincerity, and boldness he stated the simple truth about himself, and we shall have one of the best securities that we can have, that we shall not dishonour our profession. A clear view of the example of Christ our Saviour, in those circumstances, and a deep conviction that his eye is upon us to discern whether we are steadfast as he was, will do more than all abstract precepts to make us faithful to our Christian calling.