2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 'I have striven the good strife of faith' [ eegoonismai (G75)], includes, besides a fight, any competitive contest-ex. gr., the race-course (1 Corinthians 9:24, etc.; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Timothy 6:12. I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE - realizing his former resolution, Acts 20:24; Philippians 3:12. Kept (inviolate) the f...

7_I have fought the good fight _Because it is customary to form a judgment from the event, Paul’s fight might have been condemned on the ground that it did not end happily. He therefore boasts that it is excellent, whatever may be the light in which it is regarded by the world. This declaration is a testimony of eminent faith; for not only was Paul accounted wretched in the opinion of all, but his death also was to be ignominious. Who then would not have said that he fought without success? But he does not rely on the corrupt judgments of men. On the contrary, by magnanimous courage he rises above every calamity, so that nothing opposes his happiness and glory; and therefore he declares “the fight which he fought” to be good and honorable. _I have finished my course _He even congratulates himself on his death, because it may be regarded as the goal or termination of his course. We know t...

6-8 The blood of the martyrs, though not a sacrifice of atonement, yet was a sacrifice of acknowledgment to the grace of God and his truth. Death to a good man, is his release from the imprisonment of this world, and his departure to the enjoyments of another world. As a Christian, and a minister, Paul had kept the faith, kept the doctrines of the gospel. What comfort will it afford, to be able to speak in this manner toward the end of our days! The crown of believers is a crown of righteousness, purchased by the righteousness of Christ. Believers have it not at present, yet it is sure, for it is laid up for them. The believer, amidst poverty, pain, sickness, and the agonies of death, may rejoice; but if the duties of a man's place and station are neglected, his evidence of interest in Christ will be darkened, and uncertainty and distress may be expected to cloud and harass his last hour...

Verse 7. _I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT_] Every reader will perceive that the apostle, as was his very frequent custom, alludes to the contests at the Grecian games: Τον αγυνα τον καλον ηγωνισμαι· _I have wrestled that good wrestling_-I have struggled hard, and have over come, in a most honourable cause. _I HAVE FINISHED_ MY _COURSE_] I have started for the prize, and have come up to the goal, outstripping all my competitors, and have gained this prize also. _I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH_] As the _laws_ of these games must be most _diligently observed_ and _kept_, (for though a man overcome, _yet is_ _he not crowned, except he strive lawfully_,) so I have _kept the_ _rules of the spiritual combat_ and _race_; and thus, having contended _lawfully_, and conquered in each exercise, I have a right to expect the prize....

I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT - The Christian life is often represented as a conflict, or warfare; see the notes on 1 Timothy 6:12. That noble conflict with sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil, Paul now says he had been able to maintain. I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE - The Christian life, too, is often represented as a “race” to be run; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:24. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH - I have steadfastly maintained the faith of the gospel; or, have lived a life of fidelity to my Master. Probably the expression means that he had kept his plighted faith to the Redeemer, or had spent a life in faithfully endeavoring to serve his Lord....

EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 4:1 _In the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus _for _therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, _A.V. and T.R.; _and by _for _at, _A.V. and T.R. I CHARGE THEE (διαμαρτύρομαι); as 2 Timothy 2:14 and 1 Timothy 5:21 (where see note). The words οὖν ἐγώ, wanting in some of the best manuscripts, are "rejected by Griesbach, Tischendorf, Lachmann," and by Huther, Alford, Ellicott, and others. The chapter opens rather abruptly without the connecting "therefore." AND BY HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM. The reading of the T.R., κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν κ.τ.λ.., "at his appearing and kingdom," makes suc

I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT,.... The fight of faith; the same as in 1 Timothy 6:10 1 Timothy 6:10: I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, or race; the race of life set before him, his course of years; his days were extinct, the grave was ready for him, and he for that; his last sands were dropping, and he was just going the way of all flesh; or else he means the course of his ministry, which he desired to finish with joy, and was now finishing; Acts 13:25 he was now got to the end of his line, to Rome, where he was to be a martyr for Christ, Acts 23:11 so that he now concluded his work was done, and his warf

2 Timothy 4:1. _I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word;_ We are not to use such strong language as this, unless there is some sufficient reason for it. We must not be too hot upon cold matters, but even this is better than to be cold upon matters that require heat. When John Calvin wished to leave Geneva to complete his studies elsewhere, that man of God, Farrell, knowing how necessary it was for the Church that Calvin should remain at Geneva, charged him before God that he dared not go, and hoped that a curse might light upon all his studies, if for the sake of them he should forsake what he held to be his duty. So sometimes, like the Apostle, we may before the Judge of quick and dead, charge men not to forsake their work and calling....

IV. THE LAST WORDS OF THE APOSTLE CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The last charge (2 Timothy 4:1)_ 2. His last testimony (2 Timothy 4:6) 3. The last personal messages (2 Timothy 4:9) 2 Timothy 4:1 This last chapter is a most impressive one. It is the farewell of this great man of God. joy and sorrow, confidence and love breathe in his final charge and message. “The sorrow that he might have in his soul was only for those he was leaving, and even that is almost swallowed up in the joyful consciousness of the thought with whom he was leaving them.” And so he delivers one more charge, and that solemnly before

(_c_) 2 TIMOTHY 4:1. TIMOTHY'S DUTY IN THE CRISIS. Threatened with such opposition (2 Timothy 3:1) and strengthened by such safeguards (2 Timothy 3:10), Timothy must persistently teach the _positive truth._ He should be ready to reprove error and proclaim the gospel, whether the occasion seem propitious or not (2 Timothy 4:2). For Church members as well as false teachers will cause trouble. Anxious for novelty and piling up congenial instructors, they will turn to the familiar myths of the errorists (1 Timothy 1:3 *). Timothy, on t