[Week 4] Take Hold of Eternal Life (1 Timothy 6:12)

This week, we are memorizing 1 Timothy 6:12.

• Check out my latest Scripture Memorization song here: 1 Timothy 6:12
• If you're new here, see my introduction to this series here.

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses." — 1 Timothy 6:12 (CSB)

When we hear the phrase "eternal life," most of us immediately think of living forever, Heaven, an unending existence after we die. And while that's not wrong, it is incomplete, and it may actually cause us to miss what Paul is telling Timothy to grab onto.

In ancient Jewish thinking, "eternal life" carried a much richer meaning. It wasn't simply about the afterlife, it was about abundant life and participation while we are here, alive. It was about being united with God, sharing in the restored world He promised, and receiving the reward that comes after a life spent walking faithfully in His ways.

Back to the Beginning

The Greek phrase Paul uses here is zōē aiōnios, which we translate as "eternal life." This is directly connected to the Hebrew concept of chayyei olam (חַיֵּי עוֹלָם), meaning long-lasting, everlasting, or eternal life. We first see that mentioned in Daniel 12:2: "Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life (chayyei olam, חַיֵּי עוֹלָם), and some to disgrace and eternal contempt." Here we see that eternal life is what the righteous receive at the resurrection. So, the Jews like Timothy would have had this picture of awaking after death to live forever with God.

We’re off to a great start, that sounds just like our understanding of eternal life. Let’s look a little deeper though.

The Words of Life

This connection between God's words and life runs deep in Scripture. In fact, the Jewish people associated eternal life with the Torah (or the first 5 books of our Bible) itself, God's instructions for how to live. Moses tells Israel that God's commands “are not empty words for you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess” (Deuteronomy 32:47). And after presenting God's instructions, he says again: "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the LORD your God, obey him, and remain faithful to him. For he is your life" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

Do you see it? God's ways lead to life. His instructions aren't burdens, they're blessings. They are the path to flourishing, both now and forever. When we do what God has planned for a restored world full of peace, we get to live in His eternal life here and now.

Jesus never said it would be easy. But He did say it would be worth it. He said it would be good, what's truly best for us. "I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance" (John 10:10).

So when Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68), he's making a profound statement. Peter recognized that Jesus speaks the true instructions of God, the very words that lead to life. To follow Jesus is to walk the path of life itself.

The Problem and the Solution

But here's the tension. The Jewish people, despite having God's life-giving instructions, failed to faithfully follow His ways. Over and over again, they fell into sin. The path to life was clear, but no one could walk it perfectly.

This is why Jesus reframed eternal life the way He did: "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent, Jesus Christ" (John 17:3). Eternal life isn't just about following rules, it's about knowing God through Jesus. Jesus paid for our sins once and for all so that we can joyfully take hold of eternal life right now, not someday, but today.

Jesus is fulfilling what Jeremiah had prophesied: "No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them” — this is the LORD’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin." (Jeremiah 31:34)

Take Hold

When we put our faith in Jesus, we get to follow His commandments. We get to partake in His life, life abundant, here on earth. Right now.

God is calling you, just like Paul called Timothy, to live faithfully to what He has called you to, to take hold of eternal life right now, and to confess it before others. This isn't a burden. It's an invitation.

Take hold of it. It's already yours in Christ. Now live like it.

Photo by Azzedine Rouichi on Unsplash