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take hold

1 Timothy 6:11-16 (JDV)

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, human of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, care, endurance, and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the permanent life to which you were invited¹ and about which you have made a good declaration² in the presence of many attestors.

1 Timothy 6:13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good declaration before Pontius Pilate, I direct you

1 Timothy 6:14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 6:15 God will bring this about in his own season. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the kings King, and the lord’s Lord,

1 Timothy 6:16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has seen or can see, to him be honor and permanent power. Amen.

take hold

The point of mentioning God’s exclusive immortality (vs. 16) in this epistle is to show that the only thing of real value in this life is the promise that we, too, might someday share that attribute.  Presently, God is invisible, immortal, and dwells in unapproachable light.  But those who are being saved have his promise that someday we, too may share in his immortality.  Since that is the case, the last thing believers would want to do is get sidetracked by false teachings, and miss out on the only thing of eternal value this life offers – hope of the next life.

1καλέω.

2 ὁμολογέω = declaration. 1 Timothy 6:12-13.