Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you;
This phrase "may have free course" is from one word in Greek (trecho) that means "run." It is used of those who run in a race. It has here the metaphorical idea of swiftness: "proceed quickly and without hindrance." Arndt and Gingrich suggest for this passage: "That the word of the Lord might spread rapidly" (833). This wording has been adopted by The New American Standard Bible and is probably a more adequate translation than the literal rendering "run" as found in the American Standard Version.