The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC)
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3:2. Paul’s description of Timothy seems to imply that the young man needed more than Paul’s normal endorsement. Perhaps because of his youth Timothy was not as readily recognized and respected as his older fellow missionaries. Paul called Timothy our brother, suggesting equality in the Lord’s work with Paul and Silas. In relation to the Lord, Timothy was a hardworking servant, suggestive of his zeal and humility. He was a brother-servant in spreading the gospel of Christ.
Timothy’s mission was to have been a positive blessing and help to the Thessalonian Christians. He was to strengthen (stērizai; cf. v. 13) them, to make them firm and solid in the faith. He was also sent to encourage (parakalesai; cf. 2:12) them by providing what they needed to fight the good fight of faith, individually and collectively. Much of the ministry of the apostles was devoted to grounding new converts in the faith, a ministry as necessary today as it was in the first century.
6:12. Fight the good fight is the language of athletic contests. In 1:18 the same English words translate Greek words that refer to a military conflict. Timothy was to give his best effort to this most worthwhile of struggles, the struggle to further the faith. This would involve the complete appropriation (cf. “take hold” in v. 19) at all times of the fact that he possessed eternal life. (Paul’s words, Take hold of … eternal life in no way suggest that Timothy could gain eternal life by his own efforts.) To Paul, Christ’s life is the possession of each Christian, not only throughout eternity, but now (cf. 2 Cor. 4:10–12). It is this new life in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) to which every Christian is called and which Christians confess by baptism (Rom. 6:4) and by word (Rom. 10:9–10). Timothy’s good confession in the presence of many witnesses could refer to his ordination but more likely speaks of his baptism.
4:7. Looking back over his life, the apostle offered a remarkable description few could honestly echo. He had fought the good fight (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12) finished the race (cf. Acts 20:24), and kept the faith (cf. 1 Tim. 6:20). The first two are common Pauline athletic images (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24–27), while the third draws again on the image of faithfulness in one’s stewardship of Christian truth (cf. 2 Tim. 1:14).
Thomas L. Constable, “1 Thessalonians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 698.
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