New Testament athletic metaphors

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]

See also

• New Testament military metaphors

References

1. ^ Susan Heuck Allen, Finding the walls of Troy: Frank Calvert and Heinrich Schliemann at Hisarlík, University of California Press, 1999, ISBN 0520208684, p. 39.
2. ^ Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A commentary on the Greek text, Eerdmans, 2000, ISBN 0802824498, p. 713.
3. ^ David Arthur DeSilva, Perseverance in Gratitude: A socio-rhetorical commentary on the Epistle "to the Hebrews", Eerdmans, 2000, ISBN 0802841880, p. 362.
4. ^ Roman Garrison, The Graeco-Roman Context of Early Christian Literature, Continuum International Publishing Group, 1997, ISBN 1850756465, p. 104.
5. ^ 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."
6. ^ Philippians 2:16, NIV (BibleGateway).
7. ^ Galatians 2:2, NIV (BibleGateway).
8. ^ Galatians 5:7, NIV (BibleGateway).
9. ^ 2 Timothy 4:7, NIV (BibleGateway).
10. ^ 1 Corinthians 9:24–26, NIV (BibleGateway).
11. ^ Leland Ryken, Jim Wilhoit, Tremper Longman, Colin Duriez, Douglas Penney, and Daniel G. Reid, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, InterVarsity Press, 1998, ISBN 0830814515, p. 693 (RACE).
12. ^ John Phillips, Exploring 1 Corinthians: An expository commentary, Kregel Publications, 2002, ISBN 0825434955, p. 200.
13. ^ Jerome H. Neyrey and Bruce J. Malina, Paul, in Other Words: A Culture Reading of His Letters, Westminster John Knox Press, 1990, ISBN 0664221599, p. 144.
14. ^ 2 Timothy 2:5, NIV (BibleGateway).
15. ^ John Norman Davidson Kelly, A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles: I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Part 1, Continuum International Publishing Group, 1963, ISBN 0713613661, p. 176.
16. ^ Jason König, Athletics and Literature in the Roman Empire, Cambridge University Press, 2005, ISBN 0521838452, p. 133.
17. ^ The Cyber Hymnal: Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might: "Run the straight race through God’s good grace."
18. ^ The Cyber Hymnal: My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast: "My race is nearly run; / My strongest trials now are past, / My triumph is begun."
19. ^ Richard G. Kyle, Evangelicalism: An Americanized Christianity, Transaction Publishers, 2006, ISBN 0765803240, p. 203.
20. ^ Dane S. Claussen (ed), The Promise Keepers: Essays on masculinity and Christianity, McFarland, 2000, ISBN 078640700X, p. 194.