I have fought a good fight
servant
servant
. The Triumphant Testimony of Paul, 4:6–8
(4:6–8) Introduction—Paul—Death: Paul is sitting in the drab dungeon of a Roman prison. He is facing the capital charge of insurrection against the Roman government. He has had his preliminary hearing before Nero; therefore, he is soon to stand before Nero in his final trial and hear the fateful verdict: “Execution.” How soon? We do not know, but these verses indicate very soon. Paul knew that the end of his life upon earth was immediately at hand. This is the reason he had just passed the banner of the gospel over to Timothy—the reason he had just given Timothy the most awesome charge that can be given to a man: the awesome charge to preach the Word of God and to minister to a world that is lost and dying—a world that is reeling under the weight of so many desperate needs. Timothy must go forth and preach the gospel with all the might and commitment of his being. Note how Paul encourages Timothy even in discussing his own coming death. He wants Timothy to look ahead to the end of his own life and to be able to bear the same testimony. What a challenge to us all: Paul’s triumphant testimony.
1. His death (v. 6).
2. His testimony (v. 7).
3. His reward: a crown of righteousness (v. 8).
1 (4:6) Paul—Death: Paul’s confrontation with death.
1. Paul says that his life is being offered and sacrificed to God in one last act—the act of death. What a view of death! Seeing death as an offering and sacrifice being presented to God. The Greek word for offering or sacrifice (spendomai) is striking: it refers to the drink offering that was presented to God. When a person wanted to make a sacrifice to God, he often took a cup of wine or oil and poured it out as an offering and sacrifice to God. The drink offering symbolized the Lord Jesus pouring out His soul—dying—for us.
Paul is saying, “I am pouring out my soul through death for the Lord Jesus Christ. The life and blood of my body is being sacrificed for the preaching of God’s Word. I am laying down my life as an offering to Christ Jesus my Lord—laying it down in the supreme act of sacrifice. I am dying for Him.”
The great Biblical writer William Barclay describes the scene with words that should challenge us all:
Paul did not think of himself as going to be executed; he thought of himself as going to offer his life to God. His life was not being taken from him; he was laying it down. Ever since his conversion Paul had offered to God—his money, his scholarship, his strength, his time, the vigour of his body, the acuteness of his mind, the devotion of his passionate heart. Only life itself was left to offer, and gladly Paul was going to lay life down.
2. Paul says that the time for his departure from this world is at hand. The word departure (analuo) is striking in its meaning. (The following meanings are taken from W.E. Vine. Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.)
a. To depart is the picture of a ship hoisting the anchor and loosening the mooring ropes and departing one country for another country. Paul had been anchored and tied to this world, but the anchor and ropes of this world were now being loosed, and Paul was about to set sail for the greatest of all ports—heaven itself.
b. To depart is the picture of “breaking up an encampment” (W.E. Vine). Paul had been camping in this world. If any man has ever known what it is like to be unsettled and moving about from place to place, it was Paul. And unfortunately it was often not by choice. Many times the opposition to the gospel had been so violent, he had been forced to break camp and move on, sometimes fleeing for his life. But now, Paul was to break camp and depart for the last time, and what a departure it was to be. He would never again have to move. He was departing this world for his permanent residence: heaven itself.
c. To depart is the picture of the unyoking of an animal from the burden of the cart, plough, or millstone which it had been pulling to grind the grain. Paul was to be released from the yoke and burden of labor and toil in this life. He was being released and set free to depart for the pastures and still waters and rest of heaven and eternity.
Matthew Henry says:
Observe … with what pleasure he [Paul] speaks of dying. He calls it his departure: though it is probable that he foresaw he must die a violent bloody death, yet he calls it his departure, or his release. Death to a good man is his release from the imprisonment of this world and his departure to the enjoyments of another world; he does not cease to be, but is only removed from one world to another.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
“For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Ro. 14:8).
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Ph. 1:21–23).
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (He. 11:13).
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Re. 14:13).
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4).
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116:15).
“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death” (Pr. 14:32).
2 (4:7) Paul, Life—Death: Paul’s glorious testimony. The way Paul describes his life is also full of meaning. He quickly glances back over his life and uses three pictures to describe it, the pictures of a soldier, an athlete, and a steward or manager.
1. Paul says that he had lived life just like a faithful soldier: “I have fought a good fight.” Paul had responded to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ …
• He had volunteered to serve Christ.
• He had separated himself from this world, sacrificing all that he was and had to be a soldier for Christ—a soldier totally committed to the mission of Christ.
• He had suffered through the threats, scrapes, and wars launched by the enemies of Christ.
• He had fought a good (kalos) fight: a fight that was worthy, honorable, noble, and commendable.
• He had done his time, stuck to the mission of Christ to the very end.
Therefore, Paul could victoriously declare, “I have fought a good fight.” He was being released from his service as a soldier for the King, released to go home to live at peace in the kingdom of his Lord forever and ever.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ep. 6:12).
“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1 Ti. 1:18).
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Ti. 6:12).
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Ti. 2:4).
“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions” (He. 10:32).
2. Paul says that he had run and finished the course of his life; he had completed the race of life just like the athlete runs and finishes the course of his race. This is powerful, for it means that Paul disciplined and controlled his life to the utmost—just like the Olympian athlete.
⇒ He controlled what he ate and drank and what he did with his body and mind.
⇒ He focused upon the course of life, how he ran it. He could not run the risk of being distracted by the things of the world and of the flesh lest he become a castaway and be disqualified from running the race.
“And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Co. 9:23–27).
“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Ga. 5:7).
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Ph. 3:14).
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Ti. 4:7).
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (He. 12:1).
3. Paul says that he had kept the faith. He had looked after the faith just like a good steward looks after the estate of his master. The Lord had entrusted the faith to Paul, and he had kept the faith. He had proven faithful; he had faithfully managed the faith for his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. The idea is that of a trust, of a management contract between Christ and Paul. Paul is saying that he had kept the terms of the contract; he had managed and looked after the trust faithfully and well. Think about this for a moment—all the sufferings that Paul went through—the terrible trials—the times that he could have …
• dumped the trust of the faith or laid it aside and ignored it. But he never did. He had been chosen by the Lord and Master of life to manage the trust of God, even the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Paul took the trust and managed it through all—both good and bad times. He never forsook the faith. And because he had been faithful, it was time for him to bear the fruit of his labor. He was now to reap the benefits of the faith; he was to be given all the rights and privileges of the Lord’s estate—to live and enjoy its pleasures forevermore.
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.… And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities” (Lu. 19:13, 17).
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Co. 4:2).
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Ti. 6:20).
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pe. 4:10).
3 (4:8) Paul—Reward: Paul’s unbelievable reward—a crown of righteousness. Imagine! There is a crown of righteousness—a crown that a person can receive, a crown that will make him acceptable to God. No person can ever be accepted by God unless he is crowned with righteousness—completely covered with righteousness and made perfect. Why? Because God is perfect and only perfection can live in the presence of God. Therefore, the only way a person can ever become acceptable to God is by receiving the crown of righteousness from God. Paul was to receive the crown of righteousness because he had given his life …
• to be a soldier for Christ and His warfare
• to be an athlete for Christ and His course (race and life)
• to be a steward or manager for Christ and His faith
Think about it: Paul was to be given a crown of righteousness that makes a person perfect before God—righteous and perfect so that he can live before God forever and ever. What a contrast with the fading and deteriorating crowns and trophies given by this world. Note two points.
1. The crown of righteousness will be given by the Lord, the righteous Judge. He is the righteous and perfect judge, the only judge who knows the truth about all men. He knows the heart of every man, and He has seen every man every day and hour of his life. In fact, the Lord has seen every act and heard every word every person has ever done or spoken. He knows all. The Lord knew all about Paul …
• that he had been a good soldier for Christ
• that he had been a good athlete for Christ
• that he had been a good steward (manager) for Christ
The Lord is righteous and just; therefore, Paul knew that the Lord would give him the crown of righteousness in that glorious day of redemption.
2. The crown of righteousness will be given to all who love and look for the Lord’s appearing. This is a striking truth. Who is it that loves the Lord’s appearing? The person who loves the Lord Himself. Who is it that loves the Lord? The person who truly believes in the Lord and the glorious salvation He has provided. Who is a true believer? The person who has committed his life …
• to be a soldier for Christ and His mission
• to be an athlete for Christ and His course (race and life)
• to be a steward or manager for Christ and His faith
This is the person who loves and looks for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is the person who will receive the crown of righteousness. As the Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest says:
To those who have considered precious His appearing and therefore have loved it, and … are still holding that attitude in their hearts, to these the Lord Jesus will also give the victor’s garland [crown] of righteousness.
The effective preacher Oliver Greene says:
No man knows the day or the hour when Jesus will come; we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called to meet the Lord in death. If this should be the day of the Lord’s return, or if this should be the day death comes for me, could I testify as Paul did in the face of death? Have I really fought a good fight? Have I kept the faith? Have I been a good minister, true to the Word and to those to whom I preached? Will I have a crown to cast at the feet of Jesus when we crown Him Lord of all?
Thought 1. What an indictment against false profession. It is not what we profess about Christ; it is what we do for Christ.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Co. 9:25).
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Ti. 4:8).
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (Js. 1:12).
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pe. 5:4).
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Re. 3:11).
“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne” (Re. 4:10).
“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Mt. 10:42).
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Mt. 25:23).
“But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile” (Ro. 2:10).
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (Ep. 6:8).
V. THE FINAL FAREWELL OF PAUL TO THE WORLD, 4:9–22
1. A personal message: Paul needed help
a. There are special times when believers need help
1) When a loved one has forsaken God
2) When left alone because loved ones have gone to their own ministry
3) When help is needed in the ministry
4) When a fellow laborer has to be sent forth to his own ministry
5) When personal items are needed & are out of reach
6) When men actively oppose & cause trouble
7) When deserted by others
b. The experience of God’s help
c. The assurance of God’s eternal deliverance from all evil—of being rescued & transported into God’s heavenly kingdomDS1
2. A personal greeting: Paul showed interest in others
a. He greeted others
b. He supplied information about others
c. He requested help himself
d. He passed on the greetings of others
e. He gave the benediction of Christ & of grace
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter, Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.