2 Timothy 4:7

Paul used three more figures to describe his life as he reviewed it. The first two are athletic metaphors (cf. 2 Timothy 2:5) describing a boxer or wrestler and a runner (cf. Acts 20:24). The third is that of a faithful steward who has kept (guarded) his charge (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). Another view is that the first figure is military, the second athletic, and the third religious. [Note: Simpson, p. 159.] A third view is that all three figures are athletic. [Note: Earle, "2 Timothy," pp. 412-13.] Paul had lived the Christian life and served the Lord as He had commanded. 2 Timothy 4:6-7 constitute Paul’s epitaph.

Paul probably meant that he had run in the noblest race of all, namely, the ministry of the gospel, not that he had done his best in the contest. [Note: Fee, p. 289; Lea, p. 248.]