Thomas Aquinas, on 2Tim 4:7

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

“Then when he says, "I have fought a good fight," he shows why he feels secure in the face of death. But it should be noted that the death of a just man is different from that of the sinner, because, as it is said: "when the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more" (Prov 11:7). For since he put his hope in transitory things, he has no confidence in eternal things. But a just man puts his hope in eternal things and not in temporal things. First, therefore, he describes how he merited this security; second, his security concerning the reward: "as to the rest." Merit is obtained in this life by doing three things: first, by resisting evil; second, by making progress in good; third, by using God's gifts well. The first is called a struggle; hence he says, "I have fought a good fight." But a fight is said to be good, first of all, if it is over something good; for example, if it is waged on behalf of faith and justice, as the apostle Jude says: "dearly beloved, I was under a necessity to write to you to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3); "strive for justice for your soul, even unto death fight for justice" (Sir 4:33). Second, a struggle is good if it is conducted well, i.e., if one fights carefully and according to the rules: "he who strives for the mastery is not crowned, except he strive lawfully" (2 Tim 2:5); "I therefore so fight, not as one beating the air; but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps when I have preached to others, I myself become a castaway" (1 Cor 9:26). Third, it is good when the struggle is difficult: "she gave him strong conflict, that he might overcome" (Wis 10:12). To the extent that there is progress in the good it is called a course; hence he continues, "I have finished my course": "so run that you may obtain" (1 Cor 9:24). And it is called a course or journey to holiness, because they run swiftly in order to end up better, being prodded by the goad of charity: "let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest" (Heb 4:11); "I have run the way of your commandments" (Ps 118:32). But the struggle and the journey towards death continued; therefore, he was not finished struggling or running. I answer that just as a man who begins well and intends to finish has the work complete, so too the Apostle: for he had begun and intended to finish. The good use of God's gifts is twofold, namely, the preservation of faith; hence he says, "I have kept the faith," which he does who uses God's gifts for the glory of God and the salvation of his neighbor: "who, think you, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has appointed over his family?" (Matt 24:45). "He counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry" (1 Tim 1:12). Or, "I have kept the virtue of faith in me": "all that is not of faith is sin" (Rom 14:23). Hence Matthew says: "be prudent as serpents" (Matt 10:16), i.e., guard the faith as the tower and foundation of the virtues.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.