The Shepherd, November 2004
SAINT PAUL’S VISIT TO ATHENS, 4
Taken together, the various passages bring the whole scene in the stadium vividly alive. We have the course itself - “Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark of the prize….” (Phil. 3:13-14). The runner has covered part of the course and leans his body forward in the direction of the finishing line in the hope of winning “the crown of glory.” As the judge awards the prize at the end of the contest, so a crown of “righteousness,” awarded by “the righteous Judge” will be the reward of the faithful Christian (2 Tim. 4:8). As the victor experiences joy and exultation, so the Apostle’s converts at Phillipi are his “joy and crown” (Phil. 4:1). When Christ comes in glory at the End of the Age, St Paul’s Thessalonian brethren will be the Apostle’s “crown of rejoicing” (1 Thess. 2:19).
Many of the metaphors are repeated throughout the Letters. The preparations and training necessary to success, of which St Paul wrote to the Corinthians, are found again in his first Letter to Timothy. The intense and tedious course of bodily training in pursuit of an earthly prize is a lesson in the spiritual discipline of self-denial and prayer needed in training “unto godliness” in order to receive blessedness both in the present time and for eternity (1 Tim. 4:7-8).
“… If a man also strive for masteries, ye is he not crowned except he strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5). A strict set of rules was originally laid down for the athletes. Every candidate had to be of pure Hellenic descent. Certain moral and political offenses would disqualify him. He was required to take an oath that he had undergone ten months training, and would compete fairly and keep to all the regulations governing the contests. Bribery was punished by a fine. The candidates were obliged to practise in the gymnasium immediately before the games under the direction of the judges who themselves had spent ten months being instructed in all the details of the games. The Christian likewise must strive not only with zeal, but according to the rule, abiding by Christ’s absolute standards and never letting the end justify the means.
Regarding the Letter to the Hebrew Christians, St Paul is accepted as in some very real sense the author, even if it was not actually written by him, since it is seen to represent his views and his influence is felt throughout. It contains the well-known passage, “wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:12). As the athlete had to get rid of the last superfluous ounce of his body weight which would hinder his performance, so the Christian must rid himself of any unnecessary indulgence or intemperance in his life which is holding back his spiritual progress. From particular, personal, impediments within, St Paul turns to external hindrances - “the sin which doth so easily beset us,” or “clings to us.” The runner ran naked. He would have had no chance with a garment clinging to his limbs. Here the allusion seems to be to sin in general, which is ever around us. The race must be run “with patience,” or rather “with fortitude” or “steadfast endurance.” Those who wish to do anything really well have to learn from a master, so Christians must “look to Jesus,” Who called them to run the spiritual race in the first place, and is Himself the goal of the race.
The great “cloud of witnesses” brings to mind a picture of spectators in an amphitheatre, cheering on the contestants. So the saints look on us with the sympathy of “witnesses,” that is those who were once in the contest themselves. They do not look down on us, but “compass us about” or “surround us,” giving us a greater sense of support and security. When we stand in church we are surrounded by the icons of these witnesses, the saints who have “completed the course.” In a church built in traditional Orthodox style, we also “look to Jesus” as we gaze up at the huge icon of Christ Pantocrator in the dome.
St Paul knew what it meant to suffer in the service of his Lord and the Christian Gospel. Floggings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, hunger and thirst, attempts on his life and much more were his lot. As the end drew near, and with the dark shadow of his coming martyrdom hanging over him, the great Apostle to the Gentiles could write with a quiet confidence far removed from the boasting of the athlete, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (literally ‘I have completed the glorious contest’), henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
Note: We apologise to readers that in the first section of this article, published in our October number, there were more than the usual number of typing errors. These included calling the Olympic Games the Olympic Gates. As readers can imagine, we received a very sharp and deserved rap from the authoress. We have asked her forgiveness and we ask our readers: Please forgive us and bear with us.
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