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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life." Lo, there is thy reward, "whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession," in hope of eternal life, "before many witnesses." That is, do not put that confidence to shame. Why dost thou labor to no profit? "Fight the good fight." Here he commends his boldness and manliness, that before all he confidently "made profession," and he reminds him of his early instruction. …
Basil of Caesarea
Remember the good profession which you witnessed before God, angels, and men. Remember the hallowed intercourse, the sacred company of virgins, the assembly of the Lord, the Church of the holy. Remember your grandmother, grown old in Christ, still youthful and vigorous in virtue; and your mother vying with her in the Lord, and striving to break with ordinary life in strange and unwonted toils; remember your sister, who copies their doings, nay, endeavours to surpass them, and goes beyond the good deeds of her fathers in her virgin …
Theophylact of Ohrid
That is, stand for the faith immovably and invincibly — by the power of the word and by a blameless life. Here is the great reward for the struggle — eternal life. For you are called to the hope of eternal life. Here the apostle praises his boldness and courage, as one who confessed Christ amid dangers. Or he speaks of the confession that takes place at baptism, when we confess that we renounce Satan and unite ourselves to Christ. …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
Let godliness move you to justice, continence, gentleness, that you may avoid childish acts, and that rooted and grounded in grace you may fight the good fight of faith. Do not entangle yourself in the affairs of this life, for you are fighting for God. For he who fights for the emperor is forbidden by human laws to enter upon lawsuits or do any legal business or sell merchandise. How much more ought he who enters upon the warfare of faith to keep away from every kind of business. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, fight the good fight of faith, he urges him to engage in the conflict: first, he shows him how to fight; second, he gives a reason. He says, therefore: fight the good fight as soldiers do, who fight for two reasons: either to defend what they own, or to acquire what they lack; and this holy persons also should do. First, they should guard what they have, namely, faith and the virtues; hence he says, of faith, i.e., of defending their faith: even unto death, fight for justice (Sir 4:33). …
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