Expert: Maria - 5/13/2006

Question
Need the Latin translation for "Fight the good fight".  If you don't know, this is from Timothy in the bible.  I have not been able to find the correct translation into Latin.

Thanx in advance
Regards,
Jim

Answer
Hello,

Here's the Latin text of Timothy 6:12, as we read in the Vulgate, [Lat. Vulgata editio=common edition],  i.e. the Latin  translation of the Bible made by Saint Jerome at the end of the fourth century A.D:

“Certa bonum certamen”.

Please note that CERTA (imperative)is ‘Fight'; BONUM is ‘good' and CERTAMEN is ‘the fight'.

In this exhortation we read in the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy “the good fight” refers to faith, of course.
In fact the phrase “Certa bonum certamen”('Fight the good fight” ) is followed by the genitive  “fidei” (of faith), i.e.”Certa bonum certamen fidei” ('Fight the good fight of faith').

Best,
Maria