6:13–16
In the Greek the sentence that begins in 6:13 does not end until 6:16d. In many languages this will make a sentence that is too long and very difficult to understand. As you translate these verses, consider where you might make sentence breaks. However, be sure that you keep the main focus of the verses.
6:13a
I charge you: That is, Paul was ordering Timothy to do something. It was a command. What he commanded is in 6:14. This is the main clause of this verse.
6:13b
in the presence of God: When Paul commanded Timothy In the presence of God, he meant that God the Father was a witness to what Paul was telling Timothy to do. Paul was stressing that what he would say next was extremely important. See also the note on “before God” in 5:21a.
6:13c
who gives life to all things: This verse part gives a description of God. That is, whatever lives, lives only because God has caused it to live.
6:13d
and of Christ Jesus: Here Paul reminded Timothy that Jesus Christ also was a witness to what Paul was commanding Timothy to do.
Christ Jesus: Notice that in this verse Paul referred to Jesus as Christ Jesus instead of “Jesus Christ.” The names “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” refer to the same person. (Some people, however, think that when Paul used the word Christ before the word Jesus, as in Christ Jesus, he was emphasizing that Jesus was the Messiah.)
In most English versions “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” are translated in the same order as they occur in the Greek manuscripts. It is recommended that you do the same thing.
However, it is possible that, in some languages, people may be confused to see the names in two different orders. They may even think that Paul was referring to two different people. If this is true in your language, it may be necessary to translate Christ Jesus as “Jesus Christ.” This is the more usual word order in the New Testament.
Christ: The word Christ is used two ways in the New Testament. In the Gospels, Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” But later, by the time that Paul and others wrote letters to individuals and churches, the word Christ was used as another name for Jesus. It was no longer used as a title. So here and in other New Testament letters you should spell Christ according to the rules of your language.
6:13e
who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate: This clause describes Jesus’ action when he testified before Pilate.
the good confession: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the good confession probably refers to what Jesus told Pilate. Jesus told the truth about himself. For example, Jesus knew that his enemies would kill him if he said that he was the king of the Jews. Even though he knew that, he answered “yes” when Pilate asked him that question. See Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 18:33–37.
His testimony: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as testimony refers here to giving evidence in a court.
before Pontius Pilate: That is, Jesus testified while standing in front of Pontius Pilate to be judged.
Pontius Pilate: Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea at the time when Jesus was crucified. It was he who was the judge who tried Jesus and ordered Roman soldiers to execute him.
General Comment on 6:13a–e
In some languages it may be better to reorder this verse. For example:
13bIn the sight of God 13cwho gives life to everything, 13dand in the sight of Christ Jesus, 13ewho while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 13aI charge you:
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