I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
4:7 — “I have fought the good fight.” Here Paul employs a play on words, as Ver. PB puts it, “The good fight I have fought.” The verb and the noun are the same word, which transliterated become agonize, and agony; of this, to agonize the good agony. This same phrase is found in 1Ti 6:12 (Fight the good fight). See Notes on 1 Timothy, 6:12, comments. The Greek verb (agonizomai) appears in 1Co 9:25; Col 1:29; Col 4:12; 1Ti 4:10. The noun (agon) is seen in Phil 1:30; Col 2:1; 1Thess 2:2; 1Ti 6:12. The Greek term, agon, was associated with the Olympic games. In Hebrews 12:1 translates “race”. — “I have finished the course” (of life as a servant of the Lord). The verb here (teleo) means to finish, complete, wrap up, or end. The Ver. SA, TA say, “I have finished the race”; the NIV. he says, “I have brought my career to a successful conclusion”; the NTPs. and NC say, “I have finished my degree”. See the Greek term for “race” in Ac 13:25 (race); 20:24 (race). On the figure of “running”, see Romans 9:16; 1Co 9:24; Gal 2:2; Gal 5:7; Phil 2:16. Compare Phil 3:12-14. The race that Paul set out to pursue (Ac 20:24) now concludes it (2Ti 4:7). — “I have kept the faith.” We will first notice the verb (save) in this sentence; then the noun (faith). The verb tereo means to save (Matt 27:36), look (Rev 1:3keep), protect (Joh 17:15, you save); Reserve (1Pe 1:4, reserved); fulfill, carry out (1Co 7:19; 1Ti 6:14; Rev 3:10); keep (1Ti 5:22, save yourself). Consider how the following versions translate the verb in this case: “I have observed the faith” (NM); “I have kept the faith intact” (NIV); “I have kept the faith” (BJ; NV); “I have kept the faith” (POP.). Most of them translate it, using the term “save”. Paul never abandoned the faith, as some were doing, according to the ver. 4. He remained faithful in guarding her (Gal 2:20). The noun, “faith,” in the phrase “the faith” is used in the objective sense; that is, faith is referred to as an object to be kept. It is the gospel of Christ! see 1:14, comments. The word “faith” is used in this sense in 1Ti 4:1; 1Ti 6:10; 1Ti 6:12; 1Ti 6:21; Rev 14:12. It is the doctrine of Christ (2Jn 1:9), the faith that is his (Rev 2:13). Here is Paul’s example for Timothy, and for everyone: fight, finish, save. May I not be one of those who turn away from the truth (ver. 4).
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
I have fought the good fight. 1Ti 6:12.
I have finished the race. Joh 4:34; Ac 13:25; Ac 20:24; 1Co 9:24-27; Phil 3:13, Phil 3:14; Hebrews 12:1, Hebrews 12:2.
I have kept the faith. 2Ti 1:14; pro 23:23; Luke 8:15; Luke 11:28; Joh 17:6; 1Ti 6:20; Rev 3:8, Rev 3:10.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
Paul was vigilant in his service to God. Note that he did not make these comments until the end of his career, until when he was close to his death. He did not boast of his past service to him. On the contrary, he persevered, fighting and serving God to the end (1Co 9:24-27).
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
I FIGHTED THE GOOD FIGHT. Reviewing the life he has led for Christ, Paul knows that his death is imminent (v. 2Ti 4:6) and describes his Christian life as follows:
(1) Consider the Christian life as a “good fight” the only one worth fighting. He fought against Satan (Eph 6:12), against Jewish and pagan vices (2Ti 3:1-5; Romans 1:21-32; Gal 5:19-21), against Judaism (Ac 14:19; Ac 20:19; Gal 5:1-6), against antinomianism and immorality in the church (2Ti 3:5; 2Ti 4:3; Romans 6:1-23; 1Co 5:1; 1Co 6:9-10; 2Co 12:20-21), against false teachers (vv. 2Ti 4:3-5; Acts 20:28-31; Romans 16:17-18), against the misrepresentation of the gospel (Gal 1:6-12), against worldliness (Romans 12:2) and against sin (Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:13; 1Co 9:24-27).
(2) He has finished his course in the midst of sufferings and temptations, and has remained faithful to his Lord and Savior throughout his life (cf. 2Ti 2:12; Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 11:1-40; Hebrews 12:1-2).
(3) He has kept the faith in times of severe trials, great discouragement and many difficulties, suffering the abandonment of friends and the opposition of false teachers. But he never compromised the original truth of the gospel (2Ti 1:13-14; 2Ti 2:2; 2Ti 3:14-16; 1Ti 6:12).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
The combination of the three Greek verbs “I have fought”, “I have finished” and “I have kept” indicates a complete action that has continuous and permanent results. Paul considered his life complete because he had accomplished through the Lord all that God had called him to do as his soldier (2Ti 2:3-4; 2Co 10:3; 1Ti 6:12; Phil 1:2), your athlete (1Co 9:24-27; Eph 6:12) and its guardian (2Ti 1:13-14; 1Ti 6:20-21). Faith. The truths and parameters of the revealed Word of God.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
4:7 — “I have fought the good fight.” Here Paul employs a play on words, as Ver. PB puts it, “The good fight I have fought.” The verb and the noun are the same word, which transliterated become agonize, and agony; of this, to agonize the good agony.
This same phrase is found in 1Ti 6:12 (Fight the good fight). See Notes on 1 Timothy, 6:12, comments.
The Greek verb (agonizomai) appears in 1Co 9:25; Col 1:29; Col 4:12; 1Ti 4:10. The noun (agon) is seen in Phil 1:30; Col 2:1; 1Thess 2:2; 1Ti 6:12. The Greek term, agon, was associated with the Olympic games. In Heb 12:1 it is translated “race.”
–“I have finished the race” (of life as a servant of the Lord). The verb here (teleo) means to finish, complete, wrap up, or end. The Ver. SA, TA say, “I have finished the race”; the NIV. he says, “I have brought my career to a successful conclusion”; the NTPs. and NC say, “I have finished my degree”.
See the Greek term for “race” at Ac 13:25 (race); 20:24 (race). On the figure of “run”, see Rom 9:16; 1Co 9:24; Gal 2:2; Gal 5:7; Phil 2:16. Compare Phil 3:12-14.
The race that Paul set out to run (Acts 20:24) is now finished (2Ti 4:7).
– “I have kept the faith”. We will first notice the verb (save) in this sentence; then the noun (faith).
The verb tereo means to keep (Mat 27:36), observe (Rev 1:3, keep), protect (Jua 17:15, keep); reserve (1Pe 1:4, reserved); fulfill, carry out (1Co 7:19; 1Ti 6:14; Rev 3:10); preserve (1Ti 5:22, preserve yourself). Consider how the following versions translate the verb in this case: “I have observed the faith” (NM); “I have kept the faith intact” (NIV); “I have kept the faith” (BJ; NV); “I have kept the faith” (POP.). Most of them translate it, using the term “save”.
Paul never abandoned the faith, as some were doing, according to the ver. 4. He was faithful in keeping her (Gal 2:20).
The noun, “faith,” in the phrase “the faith” is used in the objective sense; that is, faith is referred to as an object to be kept. It is the gospel of Christ! See 1:14, comments. The word “faith” is used in this sense in 1Ti 4:1; 1Ti 6:10; 1Ti 6:12; 1Ti 6:21; Rev 14:12. It is the doctrine of Christ (2Jn 1:9), the faith that is his (Rev 2:13).
Here is Paul’s example for Timothy, and for everyone: fight, finish, save. May I not be one of those who turn away from the truth (ver. 4).
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
GRADES
(1) Lit., “The excellent fight I have fought.”
(2) Or, “kept faithful.”
CROSS-REFERENCES
r 169 1Co 9:26; 1Ti 6:12
s 170 Phil 3:14
t 171 Luke 11:28; Joh 17:6
Source: New World Translation
7 (1) Lit., fought the good fight. A proper Christian life has three aspects: fighting the good fight against Satan and his kingdom of darkness for the interests of the kingdom of God (1Ti_6: 12); run the race to carry out God’s economy according to his eternal purpose (Heb_12: 1); and keep the faith to participate in the divine riches of God’s economy (1Ti_3:9). In this regard, Paul set a suitable pattern for us.
7 (two) Paul began to run the heavenly race after the Lord took possession of him, and he ran continually (1Co_9:24-26; Phil_3:12-14) in order to finish it (Acts 20:24). Now at the end, he triumphantly proclaims: “I have finished the race.” For this he will receive from the Lord a reward: the crown of righteousness.
Source: New Testament Commentary Recovery Version
Faith. ie, the whole of Christian doctrine (v. Jude 1:3). Paul kept the faith in two senses: he was obedient to it, and he passed it on to others as he had received it.
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
BD342(1) The perfect tense is used here to denote a continuing effect on the subject, that is, until now; from which follows the lasting result mentioned in v. 8 (referring to a lasting action defined with hindsight -R895: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith -B74).