For connects this verse with what precedes, and perhaps particularly with verse 8. To this end is literally “into this”; this Greek expression is frequently used in the New Testament to express a conclusion and is often translated as “Therefore.” In the present context it expresses not result but purpose: the main reason and motivation for all the toil and struggle is to become spiritually fit, which is what verse 8 is referring to. This purpose can be displayed in translation by saying “We struggle and work hard to gain this life because….”
The we here is inclusive, referring to Paul, Timothy, and perhaps to other Christians as well. Toil and strive are synonymous terms, with toil referring to hard work and strive to intense struggle. Some in fact suggest that the Greek word for strive reminds one of the athlete who strains every muscle in order to achieve his or her goal of victory in the athletic arena. But of course the focus here is not on physical struggle but on the activities through which spiritual fitness is achieved.
As indicated in the UBS Greek New Testament, there is a textual problem related to the word strive. Instead of strive some manuscripts have a word that can be translated “suffer reproach.” The two Greek words concerned are quite similar in spelling and pronunciation, which explains how the textual problem has arisen. It should be noted, however, that while “suffer reproach” fits the context, the textual evidence for strive is so overwhelming that it is best to follow this reading.
What makes the struggle possible is now mentioned, namely, hope in the living God. For hope see 1.1. Have our hope set translates a verb in the perfect tense, which indicates that while the initial act of placing hope in God is in the past, the effect of such an act continues to the present. God is described as the living God, for which see 3.15. God is further described as the Savior of all men (or better, “of all people,” since the Greek word is the generic word for humankind). For God as Savior see 1.1 and 2.3. The focus here is on the universality of the saving act of God. But while this is so, the saving act of God is especially aimed at those who believe, a reference to Christians, since it is they who have put their trust in Christ Jesus. Some have seen a theological problem here and have proposed as a solution to read a general meaning to Savior when those being saved are all people (as, for example, preserver, one who rescues from danger, and so forth), and the more specific meaning of bestowing spiritual salvation when those being saved are those who believe. Another solution that is proposed is to explain the verse as saying that, while God is potentially the savior of all people, his saving activity only becomes a reality among those who believe. It is possible of course to take the statement as it is and to interpret it as emphasizing the clear preference of God to save all people, an idea that is already expressed in 2.4.
Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• We struggle and work hard to gain this life that God has promised because we have trusted (or, placed our hearts in) the living God. He is the one who saves all people, especially those who believe in him.
Or:
• We have trusted in the living God who saves all people, especially those who believe in him. That is why we work and struggle so hard to gain this life that God has promised.
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .