Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:13
Verse 13. I give thee charge] This is similar to that in verse v. 21 of the preceding chapter, where see the note. Who quickeneth all things] God, who is the fountain of life, and who is the resurrection; and who will raise thee up at the last day to a life of ineffable glory, if thou be faithful unto death. And should thy life fall a sacrifice to the performance of thy duty, all will be safe; for thy life is hid with Christ in God, and when he who is thy life shall appear, then shalt thou also appear with him in glory! Thy kingdom is not of this world; remember that this good confession was made by thy Master before Pilate.
Keep disentangled from all earthly things, live to and for God, and all will be well.
A good confession] The confession made by Christ before Pontius Pilate is, that he was Messiah the King; but that his kingdom was not of this world; and that hereafter he should be seen coming in the clouds of heaven to judge the quick and dead. See John xviii. 36, 37; and Mark xiv. 61, 62.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. I give thee charge in the sight of God , etc.] Who is omniscient and omnipotent: who quickeneth all things ; all creatures, for all animate creatures have their life, motion, and bring in him; and who quickeneth all his people, at first conversion, when dead in sin, and afterwards when dull and lifeless; and who will quicken the dead at the last day. This seems to be mentioned to strengthen Timothy against the fears of death, that should he die in fighting the Lord's battles, he was able to raise him from the dead, and would do it. And [before] Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession ; or rather under Pontius Pilate; or, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it, in the time of Pontius Pilate; for this may refer not only to the confession Christ made in his presence, at his examination by him, when he owned himself to be a King, declared the nature of his kingdom, and signified that the end of his incarnation was to bear a testimony to the truth; but it may also refer to the faithful, plain, and open witness Christ bore to truth throughout the whole of his ministry, under Pontius Pilate, by his doctrine and miracles, and at last by his sufferings and death, which he endured under him; and this is mentioned for Timothy's imitation, and to encourage him, and all other saints, to hold fast the profession of their faith to the end.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-16 - It ill becomes any men, but especially men of God, to set their heart upon the things of this world; men of God should be taken up with the things of God. There must be a conflict with corruption, an temptations, and the powers of darkness. Eternal life is the crow proposed for our encouragement. We are called to lay hold thereon. To the rich must especially be pointed out their dangers and duties, as to the proper use of wealth. But who can give such a charge, that is no himself above the love of things that wealth can buy? The appearing of Christ is certain, but it is not for us to know the time. Mortal eye cannot bear the brightness of the Divine glory. None can approach his except as he is made known unto sinners in and by Christ. The Godhea is here adored without distinction of Persons, as all these things ar properly spoken, whether of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost. God is revealed to us, only in and through the human nature of Christ, a the only begotten Son of the Father.
Greek Textus Receptus
παραγγελλω 3853 5719 σοι 4671 ενωπιον 1799 του 3588 θεου 2316 του 3588 ζωοποιουντος 2227 5723 τα 3588 παντα 3956 και 2532 χριστου 5547 ιησου 2424 του 3588 μαρτυρησαντος 3140 5660 επι 1909 ποντιου 4194 πιλατου 4091 την 3588 καλην 2570 ομολογιαν 3671
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Quickeneth (zwogonountov). o P. Rend. who preserveth alive. Quickeneth is according to the reading zwopoiountov maketh alive. Comp. LXX, Exod. i. 17; Judg. viii. 19. This association of God as the preserver with confession is noteworthy in Matt. x. 28-33.
Witnessed a good confession (marturhsantov thn kalhn omologian). Letter, the or his good confession. The phrase is unique. The good confession is the historical confession of Jesus before Pilate, which is the warrant for the truthfulness of Timothy's confession. Christ is called is the faithful and true witeness" (martuv), Apoc. i. 5; iii. 14. It is true that martuv was used very early of those who laid down their lives for the truth (see Acts xxii. 20; Apoc. ii. 13), and Polycarp speaks of to marturion tou staurou the witness of the cross (Philippians 7.); but this did not become general until after the end of the second century. 128 Before Pontius Pilate. The mention of Pontius Pilate in connection with the crucifixion is of constant occurrence in early Christian writings. See Ignatius, Magn. xi; Tral. ix; Smyrn. i. It has been supposed that these words were taken from a liturgical confession in which the Christian faith was professed.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:13 {Who quickeneth all things} (tou zwogonountos ta panta). Present active participle of zwogonew (zwogonos, from zwos, genw), late word to give life, to bring forth alive, in N.T. only here and #Ac 7:19. See #1Sa 2:6. {Before Pontius Pilate} (epi pontiou peilatou). Not "in the time of," but "in the presence of." {Witnessed} (marturesantos). Note marturew, not homologew as in verse #12. Christ gave his evidence as a witness to the Kingdom of God. Evidently Paul knew some of the facts that appear in #Joh 18.
