Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Fight the good fight--BIRKS thinks this Epistle was written from Corinth, where contests in the national games recurred at stated seasons, which will account for the allusion here as in 1 Corinthians 9:24-26. Contrast "strifes of words" (1 Timothy 6:4). Compare 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:7. The "good profession" is connected with the good fight (Psalms 60:4).
lay hold on eternal life--the crown, or garland, the prize of victory, laid hold of by the winner in the "good fight" (2 Timothy 4:7-8; Philippians 3:12-14). "Fight (literally, 'strive') with such striving earnestness as to lay hold on the prize, eternal life."
also--not in the oldest manuscripts.
professed a good profession--Greek, "didst confess THE good confession," namely, the Christian confession (as the Greek word is the same in this verse as that for "confession" in 1 Timothy 6:13, probably the profession here is the confession that Christ's kingdom is the kingdom of the truth, John 18:36-37), at thy being set apart to thy ministerial function (whether in general, or as overseer at Ephesus): the same occasion as is referred to in 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:4.
before many witnesses--who would testify against thee if thou shouldest fall away [BENGEL].
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Song of Solomon 3:8
Acts 16:3
1 Timothy 1:18
1 Timothy 4:7
1 Timothy 6:13
2 Timothy 1:8
2 Timothy 2:2
2 Timothy 4:7
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