What did Paul mean when he said he had kept the faith?

The Apostle, in the expectation of his departure, reviews his course and, as led by the Holy Ghost, he is able to affirm his fidelity. Precious grace of God to His devoted servant, to permit him to write such words with the unerring pen of inspiration! The fight he had fought, or the conflict he had waged, he knew was a good one. It should be noted that he only speaks of the character of the conflict, and not of the manner in which he had carried it on. His course was now ended, and he had kept the faith. Many had departed from it; but he by grace had kept it, maintained the truth, and had indeed transmitted it exactly as he had received it.

The apostle there speaks of his past career in three distinct aspects: as a christian soldier he has "fought the good fight;" as a racer he has "finished his course;" and as a witness for God in this world he has "kept the faith."

Next Paul writes, "the course I have finished." There is the general idea of the games narrowed to the race only; and he looks back on the course as "finished". At an earlier day in writing to the Corinthians, familiar as they were with the Isthmian Games in their neighbourhood, he had applied the theme to the life and service of the saints in general, introducing himself as an example of one running not uncertainly, not beating the air but buffeting, or bruising, his body, and bringing it into bondage instead of surrendering it to relaxation, and indulgence, and luxury (1 Cor. 9:24-27). In Phil. 3:13-14, we hear him expressing the utmost ardour of devotedness in that race for the prize. The general reference recurs in 2 Tim. 2:5, in just the same spirit in which it was first urged in 1 Cor. 9:25. Now the apostle applies it to his own case, not for self-applause, as a bad conscience and an envious heart might think, but transferring these things in application to himself for Timothy's sake, and for all who afterwards in faith read these words. Boasting was far indeed from one who had one foot in the grave and all his heart with Christ in heaven.

Finally, he adds, "The faith I have kept." This Christendom has sought to make easy and sure by the regular profession of the three creeds. But alas! all who look below the surface know how pitiable is the failure, when the most heterodox leap over all bounds in the solemn and habitual repetition of every word; while godly, but weak souls, are too often stumbled at that in them which they fail to comprehend; and thus on both sides endless mischief ensues. The faith was really kept when creeds did not exist. The word and the Spirit of God are all-sufficient for him whose eye is on Christ by faith. And then keeping the faith to the end, as Paul did, was a blessed test of fidelity to the Master. How many have turned aside, following their own minds and lusts, without creeds at first and now with them! The creeds are but puny and human barriers and of necessity powerless, the inventions of men when the word and Spirit of God were losing power through unbelief.

Paul had kept the faith: the great and precious responsibility confided to him of the Lord (involving the glory of His blessed person and the effects of His present position in heaven) had been kept to the end, notwithstanding all the attacks of the enemy and his attempts to corrupt.

(V. 7). If, however, the church was going to be bereft of the active guidance of the Apostle, his example remains for our encouragement. Here, then, Paul on the eve of his departure looks back over his path as a servant, and looks on to the day of glory when his service will have its bright reward. Looking back, he can say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” In Paul's day the faith was already assailed on every side, and it is still more attacked in our day. Without the Christian circle it was opposed by Jewish ritualists and Gentile philosophers. Within the Christian profession there were those who “erred concerning the faith” (1 Timothy 6:21), and some who were “reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Timothy 3:8). In the presence of those attacks from within and without Paul could say, “I have fought the good fight.” He had fought for the faith and he had “kept the faith”.

There is no hint of disappointment or regret in prospect of his death, but fresh, vibrant joy. He had "fought the good fight," not "a good fight," as though drawing special attention to his own fighting; but the fight in which all Christianity is engaged, as against evil and for the glory of God: his fighting in this engagement was about to conclude. He had finished the course, he had kept the faith. He is not saying how well he had fought, nor how well he had run in the racecourse, nor how well he had kept the faith: these things God would estimate. But there was no other good fight, no other proper course, no other true faith except Christianity. In this he had continued to the finish.

A crown of righteousness awaited him therefore: he could lay down his life in calm assurance of this, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, would give this to him at that day. It is the day of His appearing, of course, when He will take His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords. It is evident too that this crown is not for outstanding accomplishments in the fight or the race, for it is given not only to Paul, but to all them also who love the appearing of the Lord. The anticipation of such a crown however will be more precious to one whose undivided object on earth is to honor the Lord Jesus. It would seem the crown of righteousness would compare with Philippians 3:9: "The righteousness which is of God by faith." Certainly also every true believer loves the appearing of the Lord, however little he may understand about any distinction between the rapture of saints before the Tribulation and the appearing in glory with the saints. Similarly, Hebrews 9:28 tells us that "Unto them who look for him shall he appear the second time." It is certainly for all saints that this is true, for all look for Him, however little they may understand about His coming.

As to the apostle, he had finished his work; if others were unfaithful, he had been faithful. In the good fight of the gospel of God he had fought to the end, and successfully resisted all the attacks of the enemy. He had finished his course: it only remained for him to be crowned. He had kept the faith committed to him. The crown of righteousness, that is to say, the one bestowed by the righteous Judge who acknowledged his faithfulness, was laid up and kept for him. It was not till the day of retribution that he would receive it. We see plainly, that it is reward for labour and for faithfulness that is here meant. This — or its opposite — characterises the whole epistle, and not the privileges of grace.

How beautiful to find this dear old servant of Christ now saying, "I have fought a good fight;" a lovely close to a grand history. He has spoken in these two epistles about some making shipwreck of faith (1 Tim. 1:19); some "departing from the faith" (1 Tim. 4:1); some "denying the faith" (1 Tim. 5:8); some "being seduced from the faith" (1 Tim. 6:10); some "erring concerning the faith" (1 Tim. 6:21); others "overthrowing the faith of some" (2 Tim. 2:18); others were "reprobate concerning the faith" (2 Tim. 3:18). But the truth that God had given him he had kept, hence he could say triumphantly, "I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). The devil wants us, dear friends, to give up that which God has given us. These epistles show us the value of holding it fast What joy it is to be a Christian, a possessor of eternal life, passing through this scene of trials, but linked with heaven before we get there. It is very sweet to hear Paul now add, "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 to all them also that love his appearing."

Paul not only fought a good fight but he ran his race to the finish and he kept the faith. Having kept it, he could hand it on intact to those who were to follow him. The faith of Christianity is the great object of the adversary's attack. If he attacks us it is just in order that he may damage the faith. It would almost seem as if the Apostle in these verses had in his mind's eye a relay race. The baton of the faith had been placed in his hands and beating off the attacks of the foe he had raced through to the finish of his section and was now handing it on intact to another, with the assurance that at the day of Christ's appearing the crown of righteousness would be his; and not only awarded to him but also to all others who like him faithfully run their bit of the race with their eye on the goal. The rewards of faithfulness will be seen at the appearing of Christ and that moment will be loved by those who diligently seek His pleasure. To those who seek their own pleasure His appearing will be an unwelcome thought.

Since Christ had first called him, Paul had "fought a good fight;" in the conflict of good against evil he had remained true to Christ, even although he had suffered the loss of all things, and was about to seal his testimony with his blood. He had not sought to be relieved from the trials of the conflict, or of the race, but having finished the race, and having kept the faith, he could rejoice that the time of his release had come. By Christ's grace he had triumphed over every difficulty, and had remained true to His beloved Lord and Master until the end. Living "by the faith of the Son of God," he could say at the very close, "I have kept the faith."

Thinking now of what lay ahead, Paul can say, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." Soon there will be Christ's reign in righteousness, and then shall the faithful wear the crown of righteousness, given by the righteous judge to all who have loved His appearing. Have we the confidence of Paul in relation to the coming kingdom? Are we living now in view of Christ's appearing? There are those, like Demas (2 Tim. 4:10), who love the present age; whose eyes are not upon the day of Christ's glory; they are engaged with what gives them pleasure at the present time. Paul knew that the crown of righteousness would be his; it would be right for the Lord to acknowledge in this way his life for Him; but lest we should think that this would be for himself alone he adds, "And not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." At the rapture we shall be taken away from our present circumstances and conformed to Christ's image; at the appearing everything done for Christ will come out in manifestation.