Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Timothy 1:18

"This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;" — 1 Timothy 1:18 (ASV)

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy.—The nature of the charge which he committed to Timothy must be gathered from the solemn words and thoughts of the preceding passage—1 Timothy 1:15–16. The sum of it was that people should put their whole trust in Him who came into the world to save sinners, and who alone was able to lead them into everlasting life.

There is something very solemn in St. Paul’s pressing home this charge to Timothy, and invoking the memory of the prophecies previously made concerning him. The charge was the last precious heritage, the priceless treasure which the old master, feeling that for him the end was not far off, would leave to his favorite disciple—his own dear son in the faith.

Extremely anxious for the loved group of Asian churches, of which Ephesus was the center, foreseeing that the present perils and dangers from within and without would rapidly surround the congregations, and placing his greatest earthly hope on the steadfastness and knowledge of his own dear disciple whom he had left there as a shepherd to the sheep, he charges his son Timothy, by the memory of those strange prophetic utterances which, years before, had been made concerning him (Acts 17:1–2) in Lystra or Derbe, and which, perhaps, had first induced him to choose the young son of Eunice as his friend and companion, to hold fast the blessed doctrine which taught people to put their whole trust in Jesus Christ.

According to the prophecies which went before on you.—These prophetic utterances seem to have been not infrequent in the days of the Apostles, and were among the precious gifts which enriched and encouraged the Church of the first days. We read of them at Jerusalem (Acts 11:27–28), at Antioch (Acts 13:1–2), at Corinth (1 Corinthians 14), at Caesarea (Acts 21:8–10).

In the case of Timothy they appear to have been farseeing glances into the life and the work and the teaching of the future Christian leader; here the latter—the doctrine and teaching—is especially referred to. The prophecies in question were uttered, no doubt, concerning him at his ordination, and, possibly, some of them at his baptism.

That you by them might war a good warfare.—Better rendered, that you in them, etc. St. Paul committed the sacred charge to Timothy concerning the faith in full confidence that, in accordance with those well-remembered glorious predictions which had been made foretelling his future zeal and success in the promulgation of the gospel, in these—arrayed in them as his spiritual protection and armor—Timothy would wage his warfare against sin and evil.

St. Paul’s words in this verse may be paraphrased as follows: I give this charge to you, son Timothy, in accordance with those well-remembered predictions respecting your future steadfastness in doctrine and in life. I remind you now of them: do not disappoint these grand hopes—these prophecies of your future—but always keep them in your mind. Equip yourself with them as your spiritual armor, and so armed, fight your Master’s fight against sin and evil—eine gute Ritterschaft, according to Luther.

St. Paul frequently employs the war imagery used here: the good warfare (Compare to 1 Timothy 6:12). To the old, experienced Apostle, a Christian’s life is a warfare in the truest sense of the word; for every believer, it is a weary, painful campaign. In the case of teachers, sleepless vigilance was especially demanded.