What does it mean to wage the good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18)?

The apostle Paul used metaphorical comparisons (see 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:7) to refer to different aspects of the Christian life and faith journey. For his protégé, Timothy, Paul often framed the calling to ministry in terms of a soldier fighting a battle. This analogy may have been inspired by prophecies spoken about Timothy earlier: “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:18–19, ESV).

The original words translated “wage the good warfare” are alternately translated as “fight the battle well” (NIV) and “fight the good fight” (CSB). Paul used a similar metaphor toward the end of his letter, urging Timothy to “fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV). As Paul’s death drew near, he echoed these words, reminding Timothy to stay strong and follow Paul’s example: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, ESV).

In the original Greek, the command translated “wage the good warfare” is terminology associated with military combat. Paul began, “This charge I entrust to you,” again choosing a military term to give his words a sense of force, urgency, and obligation. He was Timothy’s superior officer handing down a formal charge. Paul stressed that serving as a soldier for Christ was no small, insignificant challenge. It would involve sacrifice and suffering (see 2 Timothy 2:3–26). Christian servants must be willing to endure hardship and be completely loyal to the ultimate commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ.

Believers are called to serve in hostile environments. We are engaged in a spiritual battle, “not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT; see also Ephesians 6:10–20; Philippians 1:30; John 18:36).

Paul told the Corinthian believers, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5, NLT). The good warfare is waged with spiritual armor and spiritual weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, the hope of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word), prayer, and sharing the gospel (see Ephesians 6:11–20; 1 Thessalonians 5:8). We also fight the good fight with love, purity of heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith (see 1 Timothy 1:5).

Christians wage the good warfare when they encounter struggles within the church (Colossians 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:2). Timothy faced a particular problem as a fledgling pastor, which was opposition from false teachers (see 1 Timothy 1:3–11, 19–20). Paul urged Timothy to stand his ground in defending the truth and stay at his post: “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked” (1 Timothy 1:19–20, NLT; see also 1 Timothy 1:3–4).

Waging the good warfare or fighting the good fight of faith includes the believer’s struggle to honor the Lord through obedience and personal holiness. The author of Hebrews set forth Jesus as the ultimate model to imitate in this battle against sin: “Think of all the hostility [Jesus] endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin” (Hebrews 12:3–4, NLT).