TLDR: In 2 Timothy 4:6-7 Paul describes his life as a fight, a race, and a journey of endurance he is about to complete. In this blog I reflect on this passage and compare it to some of our own struggles. Life requires endurance, but there is also surprising hope and joy along the way. Read for more.
In his final letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul reflects on his life with these timeless words: “I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6–7). Paul’s description of life as a fight, a race, and an act of endurance captures the Christian journey with powerful simplicity. Using metaphors drawn from the ancient Greek games, he reminds us that faith is not an easy journey, it is a lifelong struggle that demands perseverance, discipline, and courage. It requires endurance.
We know what Paul means when he says, I have fought the good fight: Judean opposition, the tyranny of the Roman Empire, the hatred of polytheistic and even pagan people for whom his teaching was a threat, and the antagonism of those within the movement he calls the Judaizers. This is how 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 describes these sufferings, “Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches.” Through it all, Paul remained steadfast and resolute, absolutely convinced that the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth was worth all his sufferings.
Our own life is also a race and a fight to overcome challenges at work, at home, in our local communities, and within ourselves. We battle visible enemies like illness, hardship, evil systems, and financial instability, just as we fight invisible enemies like fear, anxiety, doubt, and despair. In this struggle, we are not fighting for mere survival, but to hold onto hope, truth, and integrity when everything around us tempts us to give up. As Paul teaches, it is not the absence of conflict that defines the Christian life, but the courage to fight the right battles with the right spirit, knowing that “our slight, momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Paul also compares life to a race for which each of us must condition ourselves like a marathon runner. This image resonates with our modern world, where change happens at breakneck speed. We speak of people entering and exiting the “rat race,” where we constantly compete for advancement, recognition, or control. Not to mention the internal struggles of a race to prove ourselves, to outdo others, to keep up appearances. Paul’s race is not about outrunning others, however, but about staying faithful to the course God has marked out for his life. The finish line is not a promotion, a title, or a trophy. It is about hearing the words of Christ as we cross the finish line, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Running this race in accordance with God’s plan for our lives requires focus, consistency, and endurance. Just like an athlete, we must train, through prayer, scripture, community, and service. Faith grows in the daily grind of endurance.
Endurance is the quiet strength that keeps us moving when enthusiasm fades. A marathon runner doesn’t win by sprinting; they win by refusing to quit. Paul endured beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and betrayals, yet he never lost sight of his mission: to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His perseverance was not driven by ambition or ego, but by love. Paul was not chasing personal glory; he was responding to a divine calling. His encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus transformed him completely, convincing him that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Once he met Christ, there was no turning back.
The goal for us Christians is the same goal that motivated Paul to endure the suffering of his life: to know Christ and to make Him known. But let’s be honest, many of us are running tired. We stumble. We question. We wonder where God is when the pain feels too heavy or the road too long. And how can we not be exhausted? Life has become very hard over the last few years and many of us are running on fumes. If you are exhausted and worried, perhaps a bit lost like sheep without a shepherd, take heart. You are not alone, and you have not failed. The very fact that you are still running means grace is at work in you. The questions, the doubts, and the fatigue are all part of the human race. The key is not to quit. Remember, you do not run the race alone, Christ runs the race with you. The same Spirit who strengthened Paul strengthens you. When your strength runs out, His begins. When your faith falters, His faithfulness remains.
Our struggles are transitory. Our pain will soon fade away. The finish line is near, and Christ Himself awaits for us, arms open, smiling, saying, “Welcome, beloved of my Father. Receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Until that day, we must keep running. We must not tire of fighting. We must let faith abide. And we must endure in hope. The checkered flag is already waving. Our destination is well marked, and the victory has already been won in Christ. All that is left is to keep moving forward, one faithful step at a time.
May our Lord continue to bless you,
Fr. Roman+
