Timothy 6:11-16
Dearly beloved: Follow after justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness. Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses. I charge thee before God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate, a good confession, that thou keep the commandment without spot, blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in His times he shall show who is the Blessed and only Mighty, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, and inhabiteth light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and empire everlasting. Amen.
Haydock
Verse 11. But thou, O man of God. This, says S. Chrys. is one of the highest title and commendations that can be given to any man. So are called Samuel, Elias, Eliseus. 1 K. ii and ix. 3 K. xxxiii. Wi.
Verse 12. Fight the good fight. Lit. strive a good strife. S. Paul oftentimes brings this comparison of men striving for a prize. — And hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses, not only when baptized, not only when thou wast ordained a bishop, but by thy constancy and sufferings and persecutions, says S. Chrys. though we know not the particulars. Wi. — Timothy had made profession of his faith at his baptism, at his ordination, and during the whole course of a life which, through many labours and persecutions, had been dedicated entirely to promote the faith. D. Thomas. — Like him let us also combat, if we aspire after the same triumph and prize.
Verse 13. Under Pontius Pilate, &c. Some expound it of the words and particular testimony Christ gave when he said he was king, but not of this world, who came to teach the truth. We may rather understand it with others, of all Christ taught and suffered under Pilate, or whilst he was governor of Judea. Wi.
Verse 14. That thou keep the commandment. Some understand that of fighting manfully; others of loving God; others rather comprehend all that S. Paul had commanded him, and all the instructions given. — Unto the coming of our Lord; which coming, he in due time will shew. This is the construction by the Greek. Wi. — This coming will be desirable for Christians who have preserved or recovered their baptismal innocence, and for pastors who have faithfully fulfilled their ministry; but terrible, in the extreme, for all who have lived in the constant neglect and omission of their duties.
Verse 16. Who only hath immortality; i.e. is immortal of himself, and by his own nature. — Light inaccessible; to human eyes or understandings. Wi.