Ancient Greek race at the Panathenaic Games , illustrated on a Greek vase. Like the Isthmian Games of Corinth , the Panathenaic Games continued into early Christian times.[1]
The New Testament uses a number of athletic metaphors in discussing Christianity, especially in the Pauline epistles and the Epistle to the Hebrews . Such metaphors also appear in the writings of contemporary philosophers, such as Epictetus and Philo ,[2] drawing on the tradition of the Olympic Games ,[3] and this may have influenced New Testament use of the imagery.[4]
The metaphor of running a race "with perseverance" appears in Hebrews 12:1,[5] and related metaphors appear in Philippians 2:16,[6] Galatians 2:2,[7] and Galatians 5:7.[8] In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul writes "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."[9]
In 1 Corinthians 9:24–26,[10] written to the city that hosted the Isthmian Games ,[11] the metaphor is extended from running to other games, such as boxing ,[12] to make the point that winning a prize requires discipline, self-control, and coordinated activity.[13] In 2 Timothy 2:5[14] the same point is made.[15] These athletic metaphors are also echoed in later Christian writing.[16]
As with New Testament military metaphors , these metaphors appear in many hymns, such as Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might ,[17] which was sung in the film Chariots of Fire ; and "Angel Band ",[18] which was sung in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? .
New Testament athletic metaphors were embraced by advocates of muscular Christianity , both in the Victorian era and in later times.[19] [20]
^ Susan Heuck Allen, Finding the walls of Troy: Frank Calvert and Heinrich Schliemann at Hisarlík , University of California Press, 1999, ISBN 0-520-20868-4 , p. 39.
^ Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A commentary on the Greek text , Eerdmans, 2000, ISBN 0-8028-2449-8 , p. 713.
^ David Arthur DeSilva, Perseverance in Gratitude: A socio-rhetorical commentary on the Epistle "to the Hebrews" , Eerdmans, 2000, ISBN 0-8028-4188-0 , p. 362.
^ Roman Garrison, The Graeco-Roman Context of Early Christian Literature , Continuum International Publishing Group, 1997, ISBN 1-85075-646-5 , p. 104.
^ Hebrews 12:1, NIV (BibleGateway) : "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
^ Philippians 2:16, NIV (BibleGateway).
^ Galatians 2:2, NIV (BibleGateway).
^ Galatians 5:7, NIV (BibleGateway).
^ 2 Timothy 4:7, NIV (BibleGateway).
^ 1 Corinthians 9:24–26, NIV (BibleGateway).
^ Leland Ryken , Jim Wilhoit, Tremper Longman , Colin Duriez, Douglas Penney, and Daniel G. Reid, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery , InterVarsity Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8308-1451-5 , p. 693 (RACE).
^ John Phillips, Exploring 1 Corinthians: An expository commentary , Kregel Publications, 2002, ISBN 0-8254-3495-5 , p. 200.
^ Jerome H. Neyrey and Bruce J. Malina, Paul, in Other Words: A Culture Reading of His Letters , Westminster John Knox Press, 1990, ISBN 0-664-22159-9 , p. 144.
^ 2 Timothy 2:5, NIV (BibleGateway).
^ John Norman Davidson Kelly, A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles: I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus , Part 1, Continuum International Publishing Group, 1963, ISBN 0-7136-1366-1 , p. 176.
^ Jason König, Athletics and Literature in the Roman Empire , Cambridge University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-521-83845-2 , p. 133.
^ The Cyber Hymnal: Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might : "Run the straight race through God's good grace."
^ The Cyber Hymnal: My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast : "My race is nearly run; / My strongest trials now are past, / My triumph is begun."
^ Richard G. Kyle, Evangelicalism: An Americanized Christianity , Transaction Publishers, 2006, ISBN 0-7658-0324-0 , p. 203.
^ Dane S. Claussen (ed), The Promise Keepers: Essays on masculinity and Christianity , McFarland, 2000, ISBN 0-7864-0700-X , p. 194.