1 Timothy 6

      11, 12. O man of God. This expression is used in the sense of an evangelist devoted to God's work. See 1 Samuel 9:6 1 Samuel 9:8 1 Samuel 9:1 Ki 13:1 Ki 13:4 Ki 13:8 . Flee these things. The love of money. Instead of following after money, seek after righteousness, etc. 12. Fight the good fight of faith. The thought is of a soldier. See 1:18 . The Christian life is a struggle. Oppose hurtful earthful lusts, but seize upon eternal life. Hast professed a good profession. When called to eternal life. "This refers probably to his baptism, when, as we know from very early times, a public profession of faith was made."--Speaker's Commentary. "The Divine call, and the confession of believers are correlatives; they imply each other."--Bengel. Compare Acts 8:37 .

      13-16. I charge thee. See 1 Timothy 1:5 1 Timothy 1:18 . The whole epistle is a charge, and here at the close Paul renews the charge very solemnly. Quickeneth. Giveth life to. Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. The Greek may be rendered "under Pontius Pilate." Jesus before the Sanhedrim confessed that he was the Christ, the Son of God, and on that confession they condemned him to death and hurried him to Pilate for execution. I believed this is what Paul refers to. Though before Pilate our Lord reaffirmed in substance this same confession. 14. That thou keep the commandment. Not one only, but the will of Christ. Until the appearing. The language seems to imply a feeling that Christ would come in Timothy's time; at any rate Timothy is to keep that in view. 15. Which in his time he shall show. In his own times. Man knows not the day or hour. The Blessed and only potentate. All power in heaven and earth had been placed in Jesus Christ's hands ( Matt. 28:18 Revelation 17:14 Revelation 19:16 ). 16. Who only hath immortality. See John 5:26 . He is the source from whence there comes to man eternal life. Dwelling in light. Surrounded by the divine splendors which no mortal can gaze upon.

      17-19. Charge them that are rich. Some in Ephesus had riches. These must be humble and "condescend to men of low estate." Their trust must be in God, rather than in uncertain riches. 18. That they do good. The right use of wealth is given. Let it be a means of doing good so that they may be rich in good works. 19. Laying up store. Treasure in heaven by giving for good purposes. See close of verse 18 .

      20, 21. O Timothy. A final exhortation to faithfully discharge his trust. Oppositions of science. The wild speculations which were already taught by dreamers and which were probably derived from Jewish sources. These speculations a half century later had ripened into what was called Gnosticism. Some had already run off after speculations and departed from the faith. There are allusions in the Epistles to Ephesus and Colosse to the germs of the same false teaching.