Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Timothy 4:7

τὸν καλὸν�. The rec. text has τὸν�, the MS. authorities being divided almost as in the previous verse.

7. τὸν καλὸν�. See the critical note, and cp. the note on 1 Timothy 6:12, where the metaphor is discussed. The καλὸς� would seem from the parallel 1 Timothy 6:12 to be ‘the good fight of faith,’ but as we have τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα a little lower down, it is possible that the struggle in the Apostle’s thought here is that involved in the due discharge of his Apostolic office.

τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, I have finished the race, the general metaphor of the games passing into the special one of the race-course. St Paul had thus spoken of his own ministry to the Ephesian elders, ὡς τελειώσω τὸν δρόμον μου καὶ τὴν διακονίαν ἣν ἔλαβον (Acts 20:24).

τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα, I have kept the faith, viz. the Christian Creed, regarded as a sacred deposit of doctrine. Cp. ch. 2 Timothy 1:14 and the note on 1 Timothy 1:19. For the tone and spirit of the Apostle here see the note on ch. 2 Timothy 3:10 above.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Timothy 4:7

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