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A WORD FOR TODAY





Fight

This word is the translation of agonizomai and the noun of the same root agon, both of which speak of great intensity of purpose and effort.

Agonizomai was a term used in Greek athletics. It meant "to contend [to strive in opposition or rivalry; to compete] for victory as in a prize contest, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal." Anon is the noun which speaks of the conflict or contest itself. The first-century Roman world was acquainted with these Greek athletic terms, for the Greek stadium was a familiar sight, and the Greek athletic games were well known in the large cities of the Empire. The *(Holy Spirit quickened) Bible writers to seized upon these terms, and used them to illustrate in a most vivid manner, the intensity of purpose and activity that should characterize both *(Spiritual) Christian living,*(Spiritual) Christian service, and *(Spiritual) Christian warfare. The present day football game is a fair example of the terrific struggle for supremacy in the Greek athletic games that was commonly seen by the first-century stadium crowds. The point is that if we Christians would live our Christian lives and serve the Lord Jesus with the intensity of purpose and effort that is pit forth in a football contest, what God-glorifying lives we would live.

Agonizomai is used in Lk. 13:24; John 18:36; I Cor 9:25; Col 1:29, 4:12; I Tim 6:12; IITim 4:7. It is translated by the words 'strive, fight, labor fervently.' Agon is found in Phil. 1:30; Col 2:1; I Thess 2:2 ; I Tim. 6:12; II Tim. 4:7; Heb, 12:4. The English words do not give us any idea of the intensity of purpose and effort that is found in their Greek words. Study these passages in the light of the meaning of the Greek text.

The word agonia is used in Lk 22:44 where we have the words, "And having been in an agony He prayed more earnestly." Agonia speaks of combat, giving prominence to the pain and labor of the conflict. It is used in classical Greek, of fear, the emotion of wrestler before the contest begins. It is not the same as **phobos [fear], but trembling and anxiety about the issue. It speaks not of the fear that shrinks and would flee, but the fear that trembles as to the issue, an emotion which spurs on to the uttermost. This agony of the soul was our Lord's in Gethsemane.

Wuest, Word Studies.

* (added thoughts for emphasis)
** See PHOBOS (fear) Word Studies

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