⁷ I have fought the good fight,^(A) I have finished the race,^(B) I have kept the faith.

¹² Fight the good fight^(A) of the faith. Take hold of^(B) the eternal life^(C) to which you were called when you made your good confession^(D) in the presence of many witnesses.

The Need for Self-Discipline

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?^(A) Run^(B) in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^(C) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{(D) 26} Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(E) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{(F) 27} No, I strike a blow to my body^(G) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^(H)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(A) with perseverance^(B) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(C) the pioneer^(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(E) scorning its shame,^(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^(G)

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

¹⁸ Timothy, my son,^(A) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,^(B) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,^(C)

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(A) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(B) toward the goal to win the prize^(C) for which God has called^(D) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(A) my only aim is to finish the race^(B) and complete the task^(C) the Lord Jesus has given me^(D)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(E)

³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will^(A) of him who sent me and to finish his work.^(B)

²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God^(A) and obey it.”^(B)