1 Timothy 6:14
Verse
Context
Fight the Good Fight
13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:14Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
Sermons


Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That thou keep this commandment without spot - Two things are mentioned here: 1. That the commandment itself - the whole doctrine of Christ, should be kept entire. 2. That his life should be agreeable to that doctrine. Keep it without spot - let there be no blot on the sacred book; add nothing to it; take nothing from it; change nothing in it. Deliver down to thy successors the truth as thou hast had it from God himself. Unrebukable - Let there be nothing in thy conduct or spirit contrary to this truth. Keep the truth, and the truth will keep thee. Until the appearing of our Lord - Hand it down pure, and let thy conduct be a comment on it, that it may continue in the world and in the Church till the coming of Christ.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
keep this commandment--Greek, "the commandment," that is, the Gospel rule of life (Ti1 1:5; Joh 13:34; Pe2 2:21; Pe2 3:2). without spot, unrebukeable--agreeing with "thou." Keep the commandment and so be without spot," &c. "Pure" (Ti1 5:22; Eph 5:27; Jam 1:27; Pe2 3:14). until the appearing of . . . Christ--His coming in person (Th2 2:8; Tit 2:13). Believers then used in their practice to set before themselves the day of Christ as near at hand; we, the hour of death [BENGEL]. The fact has in all ages of the Church been certain, the time as uncertain to Paul, as it is to us; hence, Ti1 6:15, he says, "in HIS times": the Church's true attitude is that of continual expectation of her Lord's return (Co1 1:8; Phi 1:6, Phi 1:10).
John Gill Bible Commentary
That thou keep this commandment,.... Meaning either what he had now last of all enjoined him, to fight the good fight of faith; or the whole of the orders he had given him throughout the epistle, relating both to the doctrine and discipline of the house of God; or rather the work and office of preaching the Gospel, which was committed to him by the Holy Ghost, and enjoined him by the commandment of the everlasting God: and this the apostle, before God and Christ, charges him to observe and keep, in the following manner, without spot, and unrebukeable; the sense is, that he would discharge his ministerial function with all faithfulness and purity; that he would sincerely, and without any adulteration, preach the pure Gospel of Christ; and that he would so behave in his life and conversation, that his ministry might not be justly blamed by men, or he be rebuked by the church here, or by Christ hereafter: and this he would have him do, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; to judge the quick and dead at the last day, and which will be very illustrious and glorious. Now Christ is hid from the eyes of men, but to them that look for him he will appear a second time in great glory; in the glory of his Father, and of his own, and of the holy angels; and when his saints will appear with him in glory: and this the apostle the rather mentions, since every man's work and ministry will then be made manifest; this bright day of Christ's appearing will declare it, and everyone must give an account of himself, and his talents, unto him: and this shows that the apostle did not design this charge, and these instructions, for Timothy only, but for all other ministers of the Gospel, till the second coming of Christ; though this was then, as now, so much unknown, when it would be, that it could not be said but Timothy might live unto it.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:14 until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again (literally until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ): Christ’s comings, both past (2 Tim 1:10; Titus 2:11) and future (2 Tim 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13), are described in the letters to Timothy and Titus as “epiphanies” or “appearances.” An epiphany is a divine intervention in a particular historical moment. The church is positioned between these past and future appearances of Christ. Christ’s first, saving epiphany made possible a new life; his future epiphany will achieve final salvation. Though the present is evil (the “last times,” 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-9), our anticipation of Christ’s appearance creates accountability for living a godly life in the present. By contrast, the false teachers advocated sinful behaviors because they assumed the resurrection had already occurred (2 Tim 2:18). In response, Paul makes clear that salvation has begun but is not yet complete. The conduct of God’s household requires responsible living in the light of Christ’s past, present, and future saving work (1 Tim 3:15-16; Titus 2:11-14).
1 Timothy 6:14
Fight the Good Fight
13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:14Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
God's Peculiar People
By A.W. Tozer3.1K24:20Peculiar People1TI 6:141TI 6:162TI 1:102TI 2:132TI 4:1TIT 2:13In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being zealous for good works as children of God. He highlights that God does not approve of armchair Christianity or ivory tower Christianity, where believers simply have theoretical knowledge but lack action. The preacher encourages everyone, even those who may not be theologians, to actively engage in understanding and applying the teachings of the Bible. He also mentions the blessed hope of the appearing of Jesus Christ and the role of grace in teaching believers to be zealous for good works. The sermon references various Bible verses, including Titus 2:14 and 2 Timothy 1:10.
Joy
By Andrew Murray01TI 6:14JAS 1:271PE 1:191PE 2:212PE 2:13Greek Word Studies preaches on the concept of being spotless, emphasizing the importance of believers manifesting flawless integrity and uncompromising holiness in their moral character. The term 'aspilos' signifies being free from censure, irreproachable, and unsullied, reflecting a pursuit of personal purity akin to Jesus Christ, who is described as 'unblemished and spotless'. New Testament writers like Paul, Peter, and James use 'aspilos' to encourage believers to live in anticipation of Christ's return, maintaining a pure and undefiled state amidst worldly temptations.
St. Paul's New Phrases, -- Without Sin, Without Stumbling, Without Spot, Without Offence.
By Daniel Steele01CO 10:321CO 15:58EPH 1:41TI 6:14JAS 1:272PE 3:14Daniel Steele preaches about the remarkable change in believers brought by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, evident through the use of strong Greek words not found in the Old Testament or Gospels to describe the heavenly glory within believers. The indwelling Spirit has the power to guard Christians from stumbling into moral failures, emphasizing the possibility of living without sin through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Steele highlights the importance of striving for spotless and blameless lives, both inwardly and outwardly, as a testimony to the transformative work of Christ in believers.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That thou keep this commandment without spot - Two things are mentioned here: 1. That the commandment itself - the whole doctrine of Christ, should be kept entire. 2. That his life should be agreeable to that doctrine. Keep it without spot - let there be no blot on the sacred book; add nothing to it; take nothing from it; change nothing in it. Deliver down to thy successors the truth as thou hast had it from God himself. Unrebukable - Let there be nothing in thy conduct or spirit contrary to this truth. Keep the truth, and the truth will keep thee. Until the appearing of our Lord - Hand it down pure, and let thy conduct be a comment on it, that it may continue in the world and in the Church till the coming of Christ.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
keep this commandment--Greek, "the commandment," that is, the Gospel rule of life (Ti1 1:5; Joh 13:34; Pe2 2:21; Pe2 3:2). without spot, unrebukeable--agreeing with "thou." Keep the commandment and so be without spot," &c. "Pure" (Ti1 5:22; Eph 5:27; Jam 1:27; Pe2 3:14). until the appearing of . . . Christ--His coming in person (Th2 2:8; Tit 2:13). Believers then used in their practice to set before themselves the day of Christ as near at hand; we, the hour of death [BENGEL]. The fact has in all ages of the Church been certain, the time as uncertain to Paul, as it is to us; hence, Ti1 6:15, he says, "in HIS times": the Church's true attitude is that of continual expectation of her Lord's return (Co1 1:8; Phi 1:6, Phi 1:10).
John Gill Bible Commentary
That thou keep this commandment,.... Meaning either what he had now last of all enjoined him, to fight the good fight of faith; or the whole of the orders he had given him throughout the epistle, relating both to the doctrine and discipline of the house of God; or rather the work and office of preaching the Gospel, which was committed to him by the Holy Ghost, and enjoined him by the commandment of the everlasting God: and this the apostle, before God and Christ, charges him to observe and keep, in the following manner, without spot, and unrebukeable; the sense is, that he would discharge his ministerial function with all faithfulness and purity; that he would sincerely, and without any adulteration, preach the pure Gospel of Christ; and that he would so behave in his life and conversation, that his ministry might not be justly blamed by men, or he be rebuked by the church here, or by Christ hereafter: and this he would have him do, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; to judge the quick and dead at the last day, and which will be very illustrious and glorious. Now Christ is hid from the eyes of men, but to them that look for him he will appear a second time in great glory; in the glory of his Father, and of his own, and of the holy angels; and when his saints will appear with him in glory: and this the apostle the rather mentions, since every man's work and ministry will then be made manifest; this bright day of Christ's appearing will declare it, and everyone must give an account of himself, and his talents, unto him: and this shows that the apostle did not design this charge, and these instructions, for Timothy only, but for all other ministers of the Gospel, till the second coming of Christ; though this was then, as now, so much unknown, when it would be, that it could not be said but Timothy might live unto it.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:14 until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again (literally until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ): Christ’s comings, both past (2 Tim 1:10; Titus 2:11) and future (2 Tim 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13), are described in the letters to Timothy and Titus as “epiphanies” or “appearances.” An epiphany is a divine intervention in a particular historical moment. The church is positioned between these past and future appearances of Christ. Christ’s first, saving epiphany made possible a new life; his future epiphany will achieve final salvation. Though the present is evil (the “last times,” 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-9), our anticipation of Christ’s appearance creates accountability for living a godly life in the present. By contrast, the false teachers advocated sinful behaviors because they assumed the resurrection had already occurred (2 Tim 2:18). In response, Paul makes clear that salvation has begun but is not yet complete. The conduct of God’s household requires responsible living in the light of Christ’s past, present, and future saving work (1 Tim 3:15-16; Titus 2:11-14).