NO REGRETS
Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1. Paul’s Present Circumstances (v. 6)
Paul uses two descriptive figures of speech to describe his current circumstances as he awaits his trial and impending death.
1) Drink
- When he says, “I am now ready to be offered” he is referring to a drink offering (i.e. a libation). This was a familiar part of Jewish customs in which a worshiper poured out (offered) red wine at the base of the altar. The wine represented the blood of a lamb given as a sacrifice.
- Paul is saying he is now ready to be poured out, offered, like a drink offering before the Lord. His life is being poured out, drained, given to the Lord. (cf. Phil. 2:17)
2) Departure
The time of my departure is at hand. When he speaks of departure, he is referencing his
Militarily the word meant to take down your
The moment of death is a
Politically, the word was used to describe setting a prisoner
Paul was actually in jail. He was not free, but he knew that at his death he would be set free.
Agriculturally, the word meant to “unyoke the oxen.” It means to release the
- Upon death, Paul knew that he would be set free from all his burdens.
And that is true for every believer. Death means freedom.
Nautically, the word meant to “take a voyage.”
- Sailors used this word in the sense of a departure. They untied their ship from its mooring in order to launch the vessel.
- Paul’s death released him from his earthly mooring to make the voyage
2. Paul’s Past Victories (v. 7)
As Paul looks back over his shoulder he remembers and reflects upon his past victories.
1) The good fight I have fought (v. 7)
- The word for “fight” in Greek is agon, meaning “a striving for
Elite athletes know the agony of training. And on the day of the competition, they “agonize to achieve victory. They hold nothing back. They “leave it all on the field.”
Paul fought a good fight. He agonized and strived for victory. As he looks back, he sees he did well. He won.
2) The race of life finished (v. 7)
- Paul was coming to the end of his life and he was able to say, “All that God laid out for me to do, I have accomplished.”
- I have finished my course” combines the ideas of
- Paul finished what God set out for him to do. He completed his mission.
We don’t get to choose our race track of life; however, we can prepare for it and run it faithfully to completion.
Paul’s course led him to what appears to be the end of his journey, but actually it was just a waypoint for another leg. The end of a journey on earth put him on a course toward glory.
3) The faith I have kept faithfully (v. 7)
- This declaration, “I have kept the faith,” has a double meaning. First, Paul
- Second, he
- He preserved divine truth with the purity in which he had received it
- The word for “fight” in Greek is agon, meaning “a striving for
3. Paul’s Future Reward (v. 8)
- Paul gave an honest assessment of his current situation: I am ready to poured out and take flight.
- Paul looked back on his victories: fought the good fight, finished my course, kept the faith.
- Paul now looks forward to his future. He looked forward to being
- The idea of a crown recalls the custom of a victorious athlete receiving a laurel wreath,
- Particularly successful or noteworthy competitors received royal treatment upon returning home.
City officials would break a large opening in the city wall and then cover it over with a brass plate engraved with his name. All his debts were cancelled as the victor was granted tax-free status for the rest of his life. Merchants often guaranteed the victor and his family a lifetime supply of food. A victorious athlete could literally rest on his laurels.
The crown Paul refers to is not a laurel wreath but a crown of
- During life on earth, righteousness is
- Paul finished the race and received what had been promised: a verdict of “not guilty” from the Supreme Judge in the court of heaven.
Application:
1) Do I have things in my life right now that I regret that can be mended or made better?
2) As I look to the future, do I do it with the assurance of reward and a future crown?