Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Fight the good fight—BIRKS thinks this Epistle was written from Corinth, where contests in the national games recurred at stated seasons, which will account for the allusion here as in I Corinthians 9:24-26. Contrast "strifes of words" (I Timothy 6:4). Compare I Timothy 1:18; II Timothy 4:7. The "good profession" is connected with the good fight (Psalms 60:4).
lay hold on eternal life—the crown, or garland, the prize of victory, laid hold of by the winner in the "good fight" (II Timothy 4:7-8; Philippians 3:12-14). "Fight (literally, 'strive') with such striving earnestness as to lay hold on the prize, eternal life."
also—not in the oldest manuscripts.
professed a good profession—Greek, "didst confess THE good confession," namely, the Christian confession (as the Greek word is the same in this verse as that for "confession" in I Timothy 6:13, probably the profession here is the confession that Christ's kingdom is the kingdom of the truth, John 18:36-37), at thy being set apart to thy ministerial function (whether in general, or as overseer at Ephesus): the same occasion as is referred to in I Timothy 1:18; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:4.
before many witnesses—who would testify against thee if thou shouldest fall away [BENGEL].
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Timothy 6:12:
Song of Solomon 3:8
Acts 16:3
1 Timothy 1:18
1 Timothy 4:7
1 Timothy 6:13
2 Timothy 1:8
2 Timothy 2:2
2 Timothy 4:7
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