Paul instructed Timothy concerning what God had revealed would take place in the last days. He did so to help him realize that he faced no unknown situation in Ephesus and to enable him to combat it intelligently.
Paul identified two of Timothy's duties in the last days to impress him with what was of highest priority.
Paul revealed that he was about to die to impress on Timothy further the importance of remaining faithful to the Lord.
4:6 Paul believed that he would die very soon. He used two euphemistic expressions to describe his death. First, his life was presently being "poured out"as a sacrifice to God like the daily drink offerings in Judaism (Num. 15:1-10; cf. Num. 28:4-7; Phil. 2:17). Soon there would be nothing left. After the Jewish priest offered the lamb, ram, or bull in this ritual, he poured wine beside the altar. This was the last act in the sacrificial ceremony all of which symbolized the dedication of the believer to God in worship. The pouring out of the wine pictured the gradual ebbing away of Paul's life that had been a living sacrifice to God since the apostle's conversion.87
Second, Paul was getting ready to depart this earth as a traveler leaves one country for another or as a soldier breaks camp. The apostle believed that Nero would not release him from prison but would execute him. Christian tradition confirms that Paul died as a martyr in Rome.88
4:7 Paul used three more figures to describe his life as he reviewed it. The first two are athletic metaphors (cf. 2:5) describing a boxer or wrestler and a runner (cf. Acts 20:24). The third is that of a faithful steward who has kept (guarded) his charge (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2; Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27).89Verses 6 and 7 constitute Paul's epitaph.
Paul probably meant that he had run in the most noble race of all, namely the ministry of the gospel, not that he had done his best in the contest.90
4:8 Because he had been faithful Paul did not dread dying but looked forward to seeing His Lord. On the day of rewards for Christians (the judgment seat of Christ; 1:12, 18; 2 Cor. 5:10) Paul was confident that the Lord would give him a reward that was proper.
". . . Paul means the righteousness that God bestows (on the basis of faith), envisaged here as the reward for faithfulness to Christ."91
The "crown of righteousness"may be either the fullness of righteousness as a reward or some unspecified reward for righteous conduct on earth (cf. James 1:12; Rev. 2:10). This seems to be a metaphorical crown (i.e., a reward) rather than a literal material crown. This reward (victor's crown, Gr. stephanos) will go to all Christians like Paul who by the way they lived demonstrated a longing for the Lord's return. Not all Christians are anxious for the Lord to return since some know they need to change their way of living.
Clearly Paul was thinking of the judgment seat of Christ in verses 1-8. He referred to his Judge in verses 1 and 8. Note that it will be the righteous Judge who will bestow the crown of righteousness.
"An expectation of reward is also a recognition of God's grace. Those who anticipate reward will not be able to boast, Look at my accomplishments.' They should be able to offer praise to God by saying, Thank you, Lord, for what you have produced in me.' The very expectation of reward is an acknowledgment of God's grace."92
