II Timothy 4:7
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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
"I have striven the good strife"; the Greek is not restricted to a fight, but includes any competitive contest, for example, that of the racecourse (Ti1 6:12 [ALFORD]; Co1 9:24, &c.; Heb 12:1-2). kept the faith--the Christian faith committed to me as a believer and an apostle (compare Ti2 1:14; Rev 2:10; Rev 3:10).
Open source ↗4:7 Paul had remained faithful to the trust that was committed to him (see study notes on 1:12; 1 Tim 6:20; cp. Acts 20:24). He had preserved the integrity of the Christian faith and wanted Timothy to follow his example (see 2 Tim 2:3-7; 1 Tim 1:18; 6:12; cp. Rom 15:30-31; 1 Cor 9:25-27; Heb 12:1; Jude 1:3).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.
But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,