"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
Commentary
Gill's Exposition
I have fought a good fight,.... The fight of faith; the same as in Ti1 6:10 ; see Gill on Ti1 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; Act 13:25 he was now got to the end of his line, to Rome, where he was to be a martyr for Christ, Act 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 faith, that was kept by Christ, the object, author, and finisher of it, and through his effectual grace and powerful intercession; but rather the profession of faith, which he had held fast without wavering; and chiefly the doctrine of faith, which was committed to his trust, which he had kept pure and incorrupt against all opposition; unless his faithfulness and integrity in the ministerial work should be thought rather to be intended; and which sense is favoured by the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, which render it, "I have kept my faith"; or have been faithful to my trust, as a good steward of the mysteries of God; not concealing and keeping back any thing that was profitable, but declaring the whole counsel of God; and now what remained for him was the crown of righteousness; and this he says for the comfort and encouragement and imitation of Timothy and others. The phrase seems to be Jewish; it is said (y) by the Jews, that he that does not keep the feast of unleavened bread, is as he who does not , "keep the faith of the holy blessed God". (y) Zohar in Exod. fol. 51. 2.
Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)
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Commentary
Gill's Exposition
I have fought a good fight,.... The fight of faith; the same as in Ti1 6:10 ; see Gill on Ti1 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; Act 13:25 he was now got to the end of his line, to Rome, where he was to be a martyr for Christ, Act 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 faith, that was kept by Christ, the object, author, and finisher of it, and through his effectual grace and powerful intercession; but rather the profession of faith, which he had held fast without wavering; and chiefly the doctrine of faith, which was committed to his trust, which he had kept pure and incorrupt against all opposition; unless his faithfulness and integrity in the ministerial work should be thought rather to be intended; and which sense is favoured by the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, which render it, "I have kept my faith"; or have been faithful to my trust, as a good steward of the mysteries of God; not concealing and keeping back any thing that was profitable, but declaring the whole counsel of God; and now what remained for him was the crown of righteousness; and this he says for the comfort and encouragement and imitation of Timothy and others. The phrase seems to be Jewish; it is said (y) by the Jews, that he that does not keep the feast of unleavened bread, is as he who does not , "keep the faith of the holy blessed God". (y) Zohar in Exod. fol. 51. 2.