Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
1 Timothy 6:13 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 13. 13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse gives the charge before the life-giving God and Christ's good confession before Pilate.
Read It With
- 1 Timothy 6:11–16
Read 1 Timothy 6:13 with 6:11–16. This verse gives the charge before the life-giving God and Christ's good confession before Pilate. The complete unit establishes this movement: Timothy must flee greed, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, contend faithfully for eternal life, keep the charge under God and Christ, and leave timing and sovereignty to the immortal, unapproachable King.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The unit gives Timothy a positive alternative to greed and conflict, then places his commission under God's life-giving presence and Christ's truthful witness. Within that movement, this verse gives the charge before the life-giving God and Christ's good confession before Pilate.
Read 1 Timothy 6:11–16 together
Why these verses belong together: Flight, pursuit, contest, confession, command, appearing, sovereignty, and immortality define Timothy's charge.
Verse 11. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Verse 12. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Verse 13. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
Verse 14. 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Verse 15. 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Verse 16. 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Follow the Context
- The person of God must flee greed and pursue six virtues.
- He must contend the good contest of faith and take hold of eternal life.
- His public confession is recalled.
- The charge is given before the life-giving God and Christ's confession before Pilate.
- The command is kept until Christ's appearing.
- God alone controls the appearing's time and is praised as sovereign, immortal, unseen, and eternally powerful.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“who quickeneth all things”
In plain language: God gives life, while Christ models truthful witness under political power.
gives the charge before the life-giving God and Christ's good confession before Pilate. Courageous confession remains accountable to the giver of life.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The verse does not sanctify state power, reckless martyrdom-seeking, or avoidable danger.
What Remains True
Courageous confession remains accountable to the giver of life.
How It Can Shape Life
- Tell truth under pressure while protecting life and refusing retaliation.
Teach It Back
Explain 1 Timothy 6:13's contribution to 1 Timothy 6:11–16: gives the charge before the life-giving God and Christ's good confession before Pilate. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
Your explanation stays in this browser. It is not sent or saved.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 1 Timothy 6:11–16 — Pursue Gentle Faithfulness before the Life-Giving GodSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 Timothy 6:11–16, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/1Tim.txt, 6:11–16
Open the 1 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 1 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 1 Timothy PDF, 6:11–16 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 Timothy PDF ↗