War By These

1 Timothy 1:18 KJV

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

The Apostle says that those tools young Timothy possessed that by them he "might war a good warfare" were those prophecies "which went before on thee." Though Timothy had good knowledge of the OT prophets, virtually all commentaries say that these are not what is meant. They claim that the Apostle refers to those good recommendations that Timothy had received as a youngster.

I have a difficulty with that interpretation because those sorts of recommendations, (consider them a good testimony) though needy, are not sufficient to endure the hardships of spiritual battle. I would suggest instead that the Apostle refers to both Old and New Testament Scriptures which are the only means by which we may war a good warfare.

• It is only through the Scriptures we may mortify the deeds of the flesh
• It is only through the Scriptures we have the means to raise our families for the sake of Christ and
• It is certainly only through the Scriptures that a preacher has means to combat the enemies of the Lord.

We war a good warfare by the Word of God.