Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Timothy 4:7

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:" — 2 Timothy 4:7 (ASV)

There are two ways of interpreting this verse. One is to assume that we have here three figures of speech: the first military, the second athletic, the third religious. But the three clauses of the verse may all be taken as related to athletics. The verb translated “fought” (GK 76) can have a military meaning (cf. Jn 18:36), but it can just as clearly relate to athletics (1 Corinthians 9:25).

All in all, it seems more natural to understand Paul as speaking in the athletic sense in all of them (cf. especially 1 Timothy 6:12). If so, then we can paraphrase the verse like this: “I have competed well in the athletic contest [of life], I have finished the race, I have kept the rules”—not “fouled out” and so been disqualified from winning.