What does 2 Timothy 4:7 teach us?

This verse teaches us that our main goal in life should be to fight the good fight and finish the race. This is done by keeping faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross. 

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Context

2 Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul as a personal and final letter to his protégé, Timothy, while Paul was imprisoned in Rome and facing imminent death. In chapter 4, Paul reflects on his life and ministry, expressing confidence that he has faithfully fulfilled his calling by saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” This verse serves as both a personal testimony and an encouragement to Timothy—and all believers—to remain faithful, endure hardship, and finish well in their walk with Christ.

Every scripture is good for teaching, reproof, correction, and training so we can become righteous, complete, and equipped to do good works. 

In this scripture God is teaching us that life isn’t going to be easy. We can see this in the use of the word fight. Life is a battle. A battle between good and evil, wickedness and holiness, flesh and the spirit. No matter how we live our lives our lives will be a fight but you can either fight in vain or fight the good fight. Fighting the good fight is living your life to know God as He reveals Himself to you and to share God with others. In this life Satan and the flesh will be opposing God and will do many things to weigh down your faith and try to decrease it. That is why we must constantly pray to God to increase our faith no matter our circumstances. 

This verse battles against the lie that we can fight the good fight without faith. It doesn’t matter how much good works we do or how “good” of a person we try to be without faith we can not fight the good fight or finish the race. 

The correction that God is giving us to draw us closer to Him is to lean on Him and keep faith that God is who He says He is. 

We can use this verse as encouragement and strength. It shows us that we should make our goal in life to fight the good fight and finish the race. When this is done we can hear from the Lord well done my good and faithful servant.