This charge I commit to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you may wage the good warfare;
that thou by them mightest war a good warfare: It was by those prophecies that Timothy was to be stirred up and encouraged to "war a good warfare." Paul often compared the Christian ministry to that of warfare and the Christian to a soldier (Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 2 Timothy 2:3-4).