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.
Fight the good fight - against Satan, the world, and the flesh. Birks, This letter was written from Corinth, where national games recurred at stated seasons, which accounts for the allusion here, as 1 Corinthians 9:24-26. Contrast "strifes of words" (1 Timothy 6:4). Compare 1 Timothy 1:18. The "good profession" is connected with the "good fight" (Psalms 60:4).
Lay hold on eternal life - the crown or garland (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) laid hold of by the winner (2 Timothy 4:7-8; Philippians 3:12-14). х Agoonizou (G75) ... agoona (G73)] 'Strive' with such earnestness in 'the good strife' as to "lay hold on" the prize, "eternal life."
Also - not in 'Aleph (') A Delta G.
Professed a good profession 'didst confess THE х teen (G3588)] good confession'-namely, the Christian confession-at thy ordination (whether in general or as overseer at Ephesus): the same occasion as in 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6.
Before many witnesses - who will testify against thee if thou fall away.