Survey of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 1:18
1 Timothy 1:18Commentary on Acts 11:27 Came prophets - The word “prophet” denotes properly “one who foretells future events.” See the notes on Matthew 7:15. It is sometimes used in the New Testament to denote simply “religious teachers, instructors sent from God, without particular reference to future events.” To teach the people in the doctrines of religion was a part of the prophetic office, and this idea was only sometimes denoted by the use of the word. See Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:24. These prophets seem to have been endowed in a remarkable manner with the knowledge of future events; with the power of explaining mysteries; and in some cases with the power of speaking foreign languages. In this case, it seems that one of them at least had the power of foretelling future events. Quoted verses from Acts 11:27 commentary: Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. ~Barnes Notes |
Now the same phrase from Adam Clarke...
According to the prophecies - This may refer to some
predictions by inspired men, relative to what
Timothy should be: and he wishes him to act in all
things conformably to those predictions. It was
predicted that he should have this high and noble
calling; but his behavior in that calling was a
matter of contingency, as it respected the use he
might make of the grace of his calling. The apostle
therefore exhorts him to war a good warfare, etc. He
was now called to that estate to which the
prophecies referred; and now he is to act worthily
or unworthily of that calling, according as he
fought or did not fight the good warfare, and
according as he held or did not hold faith and a
good conscience.
Some think that the foregoing prophecies, refer to
revelations which the apostle himself had received
concerning Timothy; while others think that the word
is to be understood of advices, directions, and
exhortations, which the apostle had previously
delivered to him; we know that signifies to speak to
men to edification, to exhortation, and to comfort.
See 1 Corinthians 14:3 [quoted above in Barnes].
This is a very sober and good sense of the passage.
~Adam Clarke
Now from the John Gill on the same phrase...
According to the prophecies which went before on
thee - by which are meant, not the prophecies of the
Old Testament, though of these Timothy had a
considerable share of knowledge from a child, and
was hereby greatly qualified to have such a charge
committed to him; but then these were not prophecies
concerning him, but the Messiah, his person, office,
kingdom, and grace: nor are any particular
revelations made unto the Apostle Paul concerning
Timothy intended, of which there is no account; the
revelations and visions he had, related not to men,
and their characters, but to doctrines; rather the
testimonies of the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,
and the good reports they made of him to the
apostle, which promised and foreboded future
usefulness, are designed; though it seems best of
all to understand these prophecies of such as were
delivered out by the prophets in the church, for
such there were in those times; who, when Timothy
was a child, or a youth, foretold that he would have
great gifts bestowed upon him, and would be a very
useful, diligent, laborious, and successful preacher
of the Gospel; and therefore the apostle mentions
these to stimulate him the more to the discharge of
his work, that he might answer the prophecies
concerning him: for he adds. ~John Gill
That thou by them - By those prophecies. That is,
that being stimulated and excited by those
predictions and hopes, you might be led to fidelity
and usefulness. ~Barnes Notes
Mightest war a good warfare - The Christian life is
often compared to a warfare or struggle for victory
(compare Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2
Corinthians 4:4), and the services of the
Christian ministry especially are likened to those
of a soldier; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:7. The
meaning here is, that he should contend with
earnestness as a Christian and a minister in that
holy service in which he was engaged, and endeavor
to secure the victory. He “wars a good warfare” who
is engaged in a righteous cause; who is faithful to
his commander and to his post; who is unslumbering
in observing the motions of the enemy, and fearless
in courage in meeting them; who never forsakes his
standard, and who continues thus faithful until the
period of his enlistment has expired, or until
death. Such a soldier the Christian minister should
be.
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and
in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
1 Corinthians 9:7
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who
planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit
thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of
the milk of the flock?
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life; that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith: ~Barnes Notes
Now the Adam Clarke...
War a good warfare - The trials and afflictions of
the followers of God are often represented as a
warfare or campaign. See Isaiah 40:2; 1 Corinthians
9:7 [quoted in Barnes above]; 2 Corinthians
10:4; and see the reasons of this metaphorical form
of speech, in the notes on Ephesians 6:13 [quoted
in Barnes above]. ~Adam Clarke
Quoted verses in Adam Clarke on this phrase...
Isaiah 40:2
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her,
that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity
is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S
hand double for all her sins.
2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)
Let us look at the John Gill on this "good warfare"
phrase...
That thou by them mightest war a good warfare - that
is, that in consideration of the charge committed to
him, and the prophecies that went before of him,
might be the more industrious to fulfil his
ministry, is signified by a warfare, in allusion to
the service of the Levites, which is so called,
Numbers 8:24 with zeal and courage, faithfulness and
integrity: for not that warfare is intended, which
is common to all believers; who being enlisted as
volunteers under Christ, the Captain of their
salvation, and having on the whole armour of God,
fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil;
and are more than conquerors through him that has
loved them: but that warfare, which is peculiar to
the ministers of the word; whose business it is more
especially to fight the good fight of faith, and as
good soldiers of Christ, to endure hardness for the
sake of him, and his Gospel; and who, besides the
other enemies, have to do with false teachers; and
their warfare lies in publishing and defending the
Gospel of Christ, and in contending for it, and in
the weakening of Satan's kingdom, and enlarging the
kingdom of Christ; and for which the weapons of
their warfare are peculiarly made, and are eminently
succeeded; and when they are used to such good
purposes, by the ministers of the Gospel, they war a
good warfare.
Quoted verse:
Numbers 8:24
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from
twenty and five years old and upward they shall go
in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation:
Now let us finish in the Treasury of Scriptural
Knowledge:
This charge:
1 Timothy 1:11-12
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed
God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting
me into the ministry;
1 Timothy 4:14
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was
given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery.
1 Timothy 6:13-14
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who
before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy
trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and
oppositions of science falsely so called:
2 Timothy 2:2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who
shall be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 4:1-3
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead
at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Mightest war a good warfare
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)
2 Timothy 2:3-5
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life; that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he
not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith: