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The Finish Line
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought a good fight: I have fought a good fight - The Christian life is often represented as a conflict, or warfare; see the notes on 1 Timothy 6:12. That noble conflict with sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil, Paul now says he had been able to maintain. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse: 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. ~Adam Clarke I have fought a good fight - For a good fight rend. the good fight. For the phrase, see on 1 Timothy 6:12 ...discussed above. ~Vincent's Word Studies I have finished my course: I have finished my course - Drawn from the games also. The race is run to the end. ~People's New Testament I have finished my course - The Christian life, too, is often represented as a “race” to be run. ~Barnes Notes 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. ~Adam Clarke I have kept the faith: I have kept the faith - In spite of every opposition and affliction he has remained true. ~People's New Testament 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 endeavoring to serve his Lord. ~Barnes Notes I kept the faith — the Christian faith committed to me as a believer and an apostle (compare 2 Timothy 1:14; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:10). ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Quoted verses:
Revelation 2:10
Revelation 3:10 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-2 Timothy 2:5), 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 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 by the Jews, that he that does not keep the feast of unleavened bread, is as he who does not נטיר מהימנותא, "keep the faith of the holy blessed God". ~John Gill
To get to the finish line we must proceed according to Godly
procedures. We must do it His way.
2 Timothy 2:5
English Standard Version
2 Timothy 2:5
King James [See
Lesson] Notice the commentary on the middle phrase: Is he not crowned - Though he may have conquered, except he strive lawfully - unless he enter according to the rules of the athlete, and act as these direct. No man, however zealous he may have been, is to expect the Well done, good and faithful servant, from Jesus Christ, unless he have labored in the word and doctrine, preached the truth as it is in Jesus, and built up the Church upon Him who is its only Foundation. ~Adam Clarke What kind of attitude do we need to get to the finish line? Here is what I think in answer to this question:
1] Regardless of the advantages
one has by birth, education, duty position or respect from others, they
count these as loss for Jesus Christ.
Is there a place in scripture where we see these attitudes verified?
Philippians 3:7-14 Notice the commentaries: Verse 7: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. But what things were gain to me - The advantages of birth, of education, and of external conformity to the law. “I thought these to be gain - that is, to be of vast advantage in the matter of salvation. I valued myself on these things, and supposed that I was rich in all that pertained to moral character and to religion.” Perhaps, also, he refers to these things as laying the foundation of a hope of future advancement in honor and in wealth in this world. They commended him to the rulers of the nation; they opened before him a brilliant prospect of distinction; they made it certain that he could rise to posts of honor and of office, and could easily gratify all the aspirings of his ambition. Those I counted loss - “I now regard them all as so much loss. They were really a disadvantage - a hindrance - an injury. I look upon them, not as gain or an advantage, but as an obstacle to my salvation.” He had relied on them. He had been led by these things to an improper estimate of his own character, and he had been thus hindered from embracing the true religion. He says, therefore, that he now renounced all dependence on them; that he esteemed them not as contributing to his salvation, but, so far as any reliance should be placed on them, as in fact so much loss. For Christ - Greek, “On account of Christ.” That is, so far as Christ and his religion were concerned, they were to be regarded as worthless. In order to obtain salvation by him, it was necessary to renounce all dependence on these things. ~Barnes Notes Verse 8: Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. For the excellency of the knowledge - A Hebrew expression to denote excellent knowledge. The idea is, that he held everything else to be worthless in comparison with that knowledge, and he was willing to sacrifice everything else in order to obtain it. On the value of this knowledge of the Saviour. ~Barnes Notes For whom I have suffered the loss of all things - he dropped all confidence in his carnal privileges, and civil, ceremonial, and moral righteousness, for Christ and his righteousness; he parted with all for this pearl of great price; he lost his good name, credit, and reputation among men, and suffered afflictions and persecutions in various shapes; he lost the comforts of life, being often in cold and nakedness, in hunger and thirst, and was ready to suffer the loss of life itself for professing and preaching Christ. ~John Gill Verse 9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: And be found in him - Be found a believer in Christ, not having mine own righteousness - not trusting in any thing I have done or could do, in order to my salvation; relying on no scheme of justification, set up either formerly by myself or by others. ~Adam Clarke But that which is through the faith of Christ - That justification which is received by faith through the atonement made by Christ. ~Adam Clarke The righteousness which is of God - Which proceeds from God, or of which he is the great source and fountain. ~Barnes Notes Verse 10: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. That I may know him - To be the true and promised Messiah, and experience all that salvation which he has bought by his blood. ~Adam Clarke That I may know him - To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown The power of his resurrection - In having this body of my humiliation raised from death, and made like unto his glorious body. This seems to be the sole meaning of the apostle; for it is in virtue of Christ’s resurrection that we are to be raised incorruptible and immortal. ~Adam Clarke The fellowship of his sufferings — by identification with Him in His sufferings and death, by imputation; also, in actually bearing the cross [stake] whatever is laid on us, after His example, and so “filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24); and in the will to bear aught for His sake (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; 2 Timothy 2:11). As He bore all our sufferings (Isaiah 53:4), so we participate in His. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Quoted verses:
Matthew 10:38
Matthew 16:24
2 Timothy 2:11 [See
Lesson]
Isaiah 53:4 Verse 11: If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. If by any means — not implying uncertainty of the issue, but the earnestness of the struggle of faith (1 Corinthians 9:26-27), and the urgent need of jealous self-watchfulness. Quoted verses ...which we covered in sermon, "Pistol Shot"
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Attain unto the resurrection of the dead — The oldest manuscripts read, “the resurrection from (out of) the dead,” namely, the first resurrection; that of believers at Christ’s coming (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; Revelation 20:5-6). ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Quoted verses:
1 Thessalonians 4:15
Revelation 20:5-6 These three verses alone should be more than enough to urge you on to the finish line. Verse 12: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Not as though I had already attained - Had already obtained the great prize. It still requires effort. The prize is at the end of the race. Or am already made perfect. - He never claimed to have received such a state; nor does he intimate any where that such a state is ever reached on earth. But follow after - Press on, as one who must push forward. If so be that I may apprehend. - The idea is, I press on in the hope that I shall lay hold upon the prize. That - He will seek to lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of him at conversion, viz., his eternal salvation. ~People's New Testament. Notice what Barnes Notes says for this verse But I follow after - I pursue the object, striving to obtain it. The prize was seen in the distance, and he diligently sought to obtain it. There is a reference here to the Grecian races, and the meaning is, “I steadily pursue my course;” If that I may apprehend - If I may obtain, or reach, the heavenly prize. There was a glorious object in view, and he made most strenuous exertions to obtain it. The idea in the word “apprehend” is that of taking hold of, or of seizing suddenly and with eagerness; and, since there is no doubt of its being used in an allusion to the Grecian foot-races, it is not improbable that there is a reference to the laying hold of the pole or post which marked the goal, by the racer who had outstripped the other competitors, and who, by that act, might claim the victory and the reward.
That for which also I
am apprehended of Christ Jesus - By Christ Jesus. The idea is,
that he had been called into the service of the Lord Jesus, with a view
to the obtaining of an important object.
~Barnes Notes For the prize - The prize of the racer was a crown or garland of olive, laurel, pine, or apple; see the notes at. The prize of the Christian is the crown that is incorruptible in [the Kingdom of God].
Of the high calling of
God
- Which is the end or result of that calling. God has called us to great
and noble efforts; to a career of true honor and glory; to the
obtainment of a bright and imperishable crown. It is a calling which is
“high,” or “upward” - (ἄνω anō) - that is, which tends to the skies.
The calling of the Christian is from heaven, and to [the
Kingdom]. He has been summoned by God through the gospel of
the Lord Jesus to secure the crown. It is placed before and above him in
[the Kingdom]. It may be his,
if he will not faint or tire or look backward. It demands his highest
efforts, and it is worth all the exertions which a mortal can make even
in the longest life. ~Barnes Notes |
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