2 Timothy 4 · Verse 7

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Timothy 4:7, King James Version

2 Timothy 4:7 in other translations

BSBI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
WEBI have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
ASVI have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:
YLTthe good strife I have striven, the course I have finished, the faith I have kept,
DARBYI have combated the good combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
BBEI have made a good fight, I have come to the end of my journey, I have kept the faith:
WebsterI have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

What does 2 Timothy 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. "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 (1Ti 6:12 [Alford]; 1Co 9:24, &c.; He 12:1, 2). kept the faith--the Christian faith committed to me as a believer and an apostle (compare 2Ti 1:14; Re 2:10; 3:10).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. I have fought a good fight. The Christian life is often represented as a conflict, or warfare. 1Timm 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. Comp. 1Cor 9:24, 1Cor 9:25, 1Cor 9:26.

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 endeavouring to serve his Lord:

(a) "fought" 1Timm 6:12 (b) "finished" Acts 20:24 (c) "kept the faith" Prov 23:23, Rev 3:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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 honorable 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:6-8

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…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 4:6-8 →

2 Timothy 4:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τὸνtonTheG3588
καλὸνkalongoodG2570
ἀγῶναagōnafightG73
ἠγώνισμαι,ēgōnismaiI have fought,G75
τὸνtontheG3588
δρόμονdromonraceG1408
τετέλεκα,tetelekaI have finished,G5055
τὴνtēntheG3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
τετήρηκα·tetērēkaI have kept;G5083

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 4:7

  • 1 Timothy 6:12

    Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

    Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

  • Hebrews 12:1-2

    Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • Philippians 3:13-14

    Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

  • John 4:34

    Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

  • Revelation 3:8

    I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

  • Luke 8:15

    But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

  • Revelation 3:10

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

  • 1 Timothy 6:20

    O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

  • Luke 11:28

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  • 2 Timothy 1:14

    That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
have thought.
1Ti 6:12
I have finished.
Joh 4:34; Ac 13:25; 20:24; 1Co 9:24-27; Php 3:13,14; Heb 12:1,2
I have kept.
1:14; Pr 23:23; Lu 8:15; 11:28; Joh 17:6; 1Ti 6:20; Re 3:8,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Timothy 4:6

    For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

  • 2 Timothy 4:7

    I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

  • 2 Timothy 4:8

    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.

Read all of 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
He peleado la buena batalla, he acabado la carrera, he guardado la fe.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
j’ai combattu le bon combat, j’ai achevé la course, j’ai gardé la foi:
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ich habe den guten Kampf gekämpft, ich habe den Lauf vollendet, ich habe den Glauben bewahrt;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi, fidem servavi.