1I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: 2preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. 5But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
9Be diligent to come to me soon, 10for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14Alexander the coppersmith did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15Beware of him, for he greatly opposed our words.
16At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick. 21Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Finishing the Race Well
2 Timothy 4 Part Two
Finishing the Race Well
6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8 From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
Paul then gives a testimony about his spiritual journey with Jesus. This is a dramatic statement. When I read these words, I see something poured out totally and thoroughly before the Lord. Drink offerings of wine were poured out and burned up on the fires of the altar both day and night. The first drink offering recorded in the Bible is when Jacob's name was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:14). Jacob poured out a “drink offering.” The word "Israel" means "struggles/wrestles with God". When one hears the words “drink offering”, one can't help but think of Jesus' blood being poured out on the cross to redeem all of humanity. He gave all that He had. It was a "drink offering". His own blood was further poured out when the Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear, and His body fluids poured out onto the sand at the foot of the cross. Paul used this same “drink offering” terminology in his letter to the Philippians (2:7) and here in this passage. Paul knew he was at the end of his ministry, and he saw his own life being poured out as an offering to the Lord. I want to be able to say, “Lord, I poured it all out and didn’t hold back.” We should all desire to be able to say this.
His following words provoke us to be desirous that our own journey in Christ will remain constant. Paul says, "I have fought the good fight. I've finished the race. I have kept the faith." Shouldn’t we all want to be able to say that? In saying these things, Paul is telling us that sometimes our journey with Christ is a fight, and it will be tiresome like a race. Likewise, it will be a challenge to “keep the faith.” Paul says there is a reward awaiting him in heaven for having done this. He says there is a "crown of righteousness" that he will be given on Judgment Day. And, he tells us that all of us who can make these same proclamations will have this same victor’s crown (stephanos) of righteousness if we have loved his "appearing." This means we've loved everything about Jesus and His ministry to humankind. We have loved and we continue to long for His appearing. Paul then turns to some final words. He will express his loneliness here at the end of his ministry, and point out some who can’t make such proclamations. He’ll also caution Timothy concerning trouble makers who will never be able to say those words, “I have fought the good fight. I’ve finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
Reader, choose today to lean on the Lord and let Him take you through the struggles (fights) that you find yourself in. Lean on Him to give you strength when the race causes you to grow weary. Rest in Him as you keep the faith even until the end of your days.