Meaning, commentary and cross references
2 Timothy 4:7
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
NIV · New International Version
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
WEB · World English Bible
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
What does 2 Timothy 4:7 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on 2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight,.... The fight of faith; the same as in 1 Timothy 6:10; see Gill on 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 warfare accomplished: I have kept the faith; by which he means, not so much the grace of…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 2 Timothy 4:1–8
[2.] With what pleasure he looks back upon the life he had lived (Ti2 4:7): I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, etc. He did not fear death, because he had the testimony of his conscience that by the grace of God he had in some measure answered the ends of living. As a Christian, as a minister, he had fought a good fight.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on 2 Timothy 4:5–8
7. Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi, fidem servavi. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 8. Quod superest, reposita est mihi justiti? corona, quam reddet mihi Dominus in illa die justus judex, nec solum mihi, sed etiam omnibus, qui diligunt adventum ejus. 5 But watch thou in all things.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: 2 Timothy 4:4–10 (WEB)
4and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. 5But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. 6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. 9Be diligent to come to me soon, 10for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.
Cross references
- 1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.
- Hebrews 12:1–2
Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
- Acts 20:24
But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
- Philippians 3:13–14
Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before,
- John 4:34
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
- Revelation 3:8
“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.
- Luke 8:15
Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.