Fight the Good Fight

1 Timothy 1:18-20

This passage is a very personal commission given from Paul to Timothy. However, it is also the commission that is laid upon every minister of the gospel and especially pastors. There will always be false teachers in the world and one of the essential aspects of ministry is fighting the good fight for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy’s commission is mine too.

The fighter.

This is a charge. It is more than just a command, it is a public charge laid upon Timothy in advance of Paul’s departure. Such commands are made from superiors to inferiors—from those of higher rank to those of lower rank. This is not a peer command. In this case, it is a command given from a father to a son in the faith. Such charges are intended to define identity and future activity.

This is a charge given to chosen leaders.

“the prophecies that went before”

Paul acknowledged Timothy’s gifts. He sees this as part of Timothy’s calling and destiny. It is not unique to Timothy, it is part of the ministerial calling.

The fight.

Timothy is commissioned to engage in an ongoing war. This is not a momentary battle. It is part of the occupation of a soldier. If he is not fighting, he is preparing to fight. Such an occupation presumes commitment. It forces choosing a side. It requires vigilance. It demands action.

The text says “that you might soldier in them the good soldiery.” In them has to do with the prophecy concerning and the calling of Timothy. We are not called to battle about everything. We are not called to be cantankerous as a matter of demeanor. We are called to be careful, deliberate, and extremely protective of sound doctrine. This what the “good fight” means—fighting for the right things in the right way.

The mentality.

The way in which we think as we fight for the truth matters. Paul mentions two mental attitudes or states–faith in God and a good conscience. These two must go together. A good conscience speaks of moral self-awareness. I have a true sense of who I am and what I am spiritually and I am operating within the bounds of those limitations. I can deceive and sear my conscience so I must continually humbly ask God to reveal to me the wickedness of my own heart (Psalm 139:23-24). Doctrinal deviation and moral failure often go together.

The method.

Identify and denounce.

We do not fight with physical weapons. No battle for truth is won by force or violence. There can be no vague references in this battle. False teaching always has a false teacher. Paul identifies two by name—Hymenaeus and Alexander. He explains that they “pushed off” from the faith. If we do not clearly understand sound doctrine, we will not know when false teachers depart from it. These two had been part of the church and departed from it. False teachers do not usually appear from without—they arise from within. The teaching and the teacher must be clearly noted. Paul repeats this in Romans 16:17-18. He models this with Diotrephes (3 John 9-11), and with the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5.

Separate.

“There you guys go, talking about separation again.”

I make no apology. This is the repeated command to church leaders in the New Testament. As in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, Paul uses the command to “deliver such a person to Satan.” This is not some sort of religious persecution as the Catholics did in the Inquisition. Paul, in both cases, leaves the door open for repentance and restoration— “that they might learn not to blaspheme.” The indication seems to be that the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 repented, was forgiven, and was restored to fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:1-9).

Giving over to Satan seems to be to remove the person from the fellowship of believers and no longer claim them as a brother. 1 Corinthians 5 says not to eat with them (many assume this is taking the Lord’s table). Matthew 18 says to treat them as heathens and publicans (Matthew 18:17). John says to not even pronounce a blessing upon them—do not bid them Godspeed—or you will become a partaker of their evil deeds (2 John 10-11).

This fight is not optional. It is essential to our calling. Disobeying the command to fight is, in itself, a betrayal of our Lord.

Fight the good fight.