John Calvin Commentary 1 Timothy 6:12

"Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses." — 1 Timothy 6:12 (ASV)

Fight the good fight of faith. In the next epistle he says,

He who hath become a soldier doth not entangle himself with matters inconsistent with his calling (2 Timothy 2:4).

In like manner, to withdraw Timothy from excessive concern about earthly things, he reminds him that he must fight; for carelessness and self-indulgence arise from this cause, that the majority wish to serve Christ at ease, and as if it were a pastime, whereas Christ calls all His servants to warfare.

To encourage him to fight such a fight courageously, he calls it good; that is, successful, and therefore not to be shunned. For if earthly soldiers do not hesitate to fight when the result is doubtful and when there is a risk of being killed, how much more bravely should we do battle under the guidance and banner of Christ, when we are certain of victory?

Especially, since a reward awaits us—not such as other generals usually give to their soldiers, but a glorious immortality and heavenly blessedness—it would certainly be disgraceful for us, who have such a hope held out to us, to grow weary or give way. And that is what he immediately afterwards adds:

Lay hold on eternal life. As if he had said, “God calls you to eternal life, and therefore, despising the world, strive to obtain it.”

When he commands them to lay hold on it, he forbids them to pause or slacken in the middle of their course, as if he had said that “nothing has been done until we have obtained the life to come, to which God invites us.” Similarly, Paul affirms that he strives to make progress because he has not yet laid hold (Philippians 3:12).

To which also thou hast been called. Because people would run at random and to no purpose if they did not have God as the director of their course, to promote their cheerful activity, he also mentions the calling.

For there is nothing that should animate us with greater courage than to learn that we have been called by God. We conclude from this that our labor, which God directs and in which He stretches out His hand to us, will not be fruitless.

Besides, to have rejected the calling of God would be a disgraceful reproach. Therefore, this should be a very powerful encouragement: “God calls you to eternal life; beware of being drawn aside to anything else, or of falling short in any way, before you have attained it.”

And hast confessed a good confession. By mentioning his former life, the Apostle encourages him still more to persevere, for to give way after having begun well is more disgraceful than never to have begun. To Timothy, who had until now acted valiantly and had obtained applause, he addresses this powerful argument: that the end should correspond to the beginning.

By the word confession, I understand not what is expressed in words, but rather what is actually performed; and that not in a single instance merely, but throughout his whole ministry.

The meaning therefore is: “You have many witnesses of your illustrious confession, both at Ephesus and in other countries, who have seen you acting faithfully and sincerely in the profession of the gospel. Therefore, having given such a proof of fidelity, you cannot, without the greatest shame and disgrace, show yourself to be anything else than a distinguished soldier of Christ.”

By this passage we are taught in general that the more any of us excels, the less excusable he is if he fails, and the stronger are his obligations to God to persevere in the right course.