Bible Study: Finishing the race faithfully
2 Timothy 4:5-22
Click here to read the passage, 2 Timothy 4:5-22
Finishing the race faithfully
Paul urges Timothy to remain steadfast in his ministry, endure hardships, and stay faithful to the gospel, even as Paul faces the end of his life with confidence in Christ.
Paul reflects on his life, declaring that he has “fought the good fight” and anticipates his eternal reward. He also recounts how many have abandoned him, but God has remained faithful.
Despite hardships, Paul expresses confidence in the Lord’s deliverance and encourages Timothy to come quickly before winter. He closes with final greetings and a blessing.
Note on Verse 4:6, regarding “poured out as a drink offering”: Paul describes his impending death in Old Testament sacrificial language. A drink offering was a ritual offering of wine poured out before the Lord, often in conjunction with other sacrifices, such as burnt offerings or grain offerings. It symbolized devotion, worship, and the complete surrender of the offerer to God. Paul is suggesting that he sees himself as laying down his life for the sake of the gospel. However, the use of the passive voice (I am . . . being poured out) stresses that it is God who is acting here.
Note on Verse 4:7, “I have fought the good fight”: Some have objected that Paul’s statement sounds prideful. But there is no claim of personal glory here. Paul is simply saying that he has finally completed the course God ordained for him. He has done, clearly by God’s grace, what he is exhorting Timothy to do.
Key Takeaways
Stay faithful to your calling — Ministry requires endurance and commitment.
Expect hardships — Paul’s life shows that suffering is part of the Christian walk.
God’s faithfulness never wavers — Even when others abandon us, God stands by us.
Finish strong — Paul’s example challenges us to persevere in faith until the end.
Invest in relationships — Paul values companionship and urges Timothy to come quickly.
The people Paul mentions
Aside from Timothy, Paul mentions 16 people in this passage. Here is what we know about each of them.
Demas – Once a co-laborer with Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24), but here he is said to have deserted Paul, loving the present world.
Crescens – Nothing.
Titus – A Gentile convert and key leader in the early church. He was left by Paul to oversee the churches in Crete (Titus 1:5).
Luke – The physician and author of Luke and Acts. He remained faithful to Paul and was with him at the end.
Mark (John Mark) – He initially abandoned Paul and Barnabas on a mission (Acts 13:13), but later was restored. Paul now sees him as “useful” (v. 11).
Tychicus – A trusted co-worker of Paul who carried letters to the Ephesians and Colossians (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7).
Carpus – Nothing, except that Paul left his cloak with him in Troas.
Alexander the coppersmith – He opposed Paul strongly and was possibly the same Alexander mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20, who was handed over to Satan.
Prisca (Priscilla) & Aquila – A married couple who were close friends of Paul, tentmakers by trade, and influential in the early church (Acts 18:2, 26; Romans 16:3).
Onesiphorus – A faithful believer who had refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of his chains (2 Timothy 1:16-18).
Erastus – Possibly the city treasurer of Corinth (Romans 16:23), though not certain. He stayed in Corinth.
Trophimus – A Gentile Christian from Ephesus who traveled with Paul (Acts 20:4; 21:29). He was left sick in Miletus.
Eubulus – Nothing.
Pudens – Nothing.
Linus – Possibly the same Linus who, according to church tradition, became the first bishop of Rome after Peter.
Claudia – Nothing.
Quotes
John Stott (Anglican pastor who died in 2011): “Here is Paul, lonely but not despondent, deserted but not embittered, facing execution but with no regrets, because he knows he has been faithful.”
Charles Spurgeon (19th century Baptist pastor): “A Christian should labor to do well all his life and, at the close, to die well. He should seek so to live that he can say with Paul, ‘I have fought a good fight.’”
Augustine (bishop and theologian who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries): “A good servant is not concerned with how he begins the race but how he finishes it. Paul finished well because his eyes were on Christ, not on the world.”
Questions
Which of the above three quotes stand out to you and why?
How can we apply Paul’s perspective on suffering to our own trials?
Paul says he has “fought the good fight” (v. 7). What does this look like practically for us today?
What does Paul’s confidence in receiving a crown of righteousness (v. 8) teach us about eternal rewards?
What encouragement do we find in Paul’s statement that “the Lord stood by me” (v. 17)? Compare and contrast that to many of the people mentioned in this passage.
How can we encourage others who are nearing the end of their earthly race?
What legacy do you want to leave behind in your faith journey?