18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Ahhh, here is Paul, creating paradoxes again (at least from my limited perspective). From vs 12 onward we see the clear work of Christ in strengthening us, appointing us, saving us, using us for His glory...everything is about Him and by Him. And now he tells us to fight. It is all about God, it is all by God, but we must engage. As Jeremy said, our engagement seems to be simple in the sense of focusing on faith and a good conscience. And I would agree, it does not need to be complicated, but it is not easy either (and certainly Jeremy does not say it is). Paul commands us to fight!! How often do I look at the journey of faith as one which at times needs to be faught for. And certainly there is something more than territory and cities at stake here, Paul is speaking of eternity. How I pray for God's grace to enable me to see the need and significance to fight. Gentlemen, I am thankful as well, that like Paul and Timothy, we do not fight alone, but in community. I am blessed. God bless you all!!!
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What is the good fight? In the context I think it is to cling to the faith and a good conscience. Sometimes I think we focus too much on the good conscience (doing good things) side. Paul's language brings to mind Jesus' language when he said, "Remain in me..." We not only must fight to do good but must fight to maintain our connection to the source of life. One without the other won't help us much.
i like to see living for Jesus as simple but not easy. love God...love neighbor...pretty simple, but not easy.
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