[Greek] ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai), [Latin] contendere, [Latin] sollicitus, [Latin] certere, [Latin] decertere: to struggle, to fight, to contend for a prize, to compete in the games, to make an effort, to strive; Lk.13:24, Jn.18:35, 1Cor.9:25, Col.1:29, Col.4:12, 1Tim.4:10, 1Tim.6:12, 2Tim.4:7
Christians must be be ready to run the race (Christian life) against the competition (secularism, paganism, evil, and Modernism).
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term, used in various contexts, can mean to contend for a prize, to compete in the games, to provoke a contest (argument), to argue cleverly, to contend in court, to fight for a cause, to fight against an accusation, and to grapple.
Euripides’ The Suppliants 427: “But since you have thus entered the contest with me, listen awhile, for it was you that challenged a discussion.” Euripides’ Heracleidae 427 states “When I had taken up a quarrel with Heracles and realized that this was the struggle I would be engaged in, I became the inventor of much grief.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 8.26: “When the Arcadians told them that the Greek were holding the Olympic festival, the Persian asked what was the prize offered, for which they contended.”
Euripides’ Heracleidae 992: “When I had taken up a quarrel with Heracles and realized that, this was the struggle I would be engaged in.
Herodotus’ The Histories 2.160: “The Eleans boast that they arranged the Olympic games, claiming even the Egyptians could not to do better.”
Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.177: “So also you are in readiness to help men who are willing to fight for independence, and will come to their aid if they are attacked.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 1.76: “The fighting was fierce, many on both sides fell, and at nightfall they disengaged with neither side victorious. The two sides contended thus.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 9.26: “During the drawing up of battle formation there was much dispute between the Tegeans and the Athenians.”
Old Testament: This term means to struggle, to strive, and to endure. This term is quite often influenced by the Hellenistic Judaic tradition of the pious believer, who like an athlete, faces obstacles, persecution. and martyrdom. Such metaphorical and graphic imagery illustrate the heroic virtues of those persecuted or martyred.
New Testament: This term means to strive, to fight, to labor, and to compete. Luke states that one can only enter into heaven through a narrow gate. Rather than with relaxation and indecision, one can only enter this gate through struggle and striving. Paul presents himself as an athlete who has finished the race (Christian life) and who has kept the faith. Paul calls upon his followers (communities) to follow his example. The Christian, in order to be faithful, must have discipline, denial, and perseverance. Prayer, along with action, is needed for the salvation of many. In prayer there is a unity between God’s will and man.
Scripture:
Lk. 13:24: “Strive (struggle) to enter through the narrow door, many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Jesus stresses that GREAT EFFORT is needed for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. There is also an urgency because the narrow door will NOT remain open indefinitely.)
Jn.18:36: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If My kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews.” (Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual (moral) kingdom not really in competition with the natural (political) world. The more important question is: “What values do you hold more important? The earthly world or the spiritual kingdom.)
1Cor.9:25-26: “Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we do it for an imperishable crown.” (The Christian is likened to an athlete requiring discipline, training, strengthening, and nutrients. Winning the imperishable crown is finishing the Christian race being faithful to Christ, even unto death. Fun fact: a martyr’s bones are also called trophies.)
Col.1:29: “For this I [Paul] labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of His power working within me.” (Although Paul may labor and struggle, God provides Paul with the power and grace to carry out this mission.)
1Tim.6:12: “Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you where called when you made the noble profession in the presence of many witnesses.” (The Christian is likened to an athlete competing to win the Christian race of life.)
2Tim.4:7: “I [Paul] have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (At the close of his life, Paul testifies that he has competed well in the Christian race in life. Acts 9:16 states that Jesus tells Paul that he will have to suffer for His name.)
Early Church: The early Church continues to take up the themes of the Christians’ struggles (and victories). As the decisive battle is seen in martyrdom, the victorious Christians accomplish the triumph of the Church. This presents a glowing picture of the heroic Christian martyr.
1 Clement 7:1: “For we are in the same arena, and the same contest is imposed upon us.”
2 Clement 7:2: “Let us contend that we all may be crowned.”
Epistle of Barnabus 4:11: “As far as in us, let us exercise ourselves in the fear of God.”
Conclusion:
Agony, agonize, solicit, contend, contention, certain
It was interesting to discover the many ways that this term was used in the Greco-Roman era. Aside from physical contests, this term can be used in verbal disputes and fighting for a cause. At yearly Athenian festivals, prizes for drama were awarded to the playwright and the choregos (the play’s benefactor and patron). Monuments were built in honor of the victorious choregos ==>choreographer. (Sounds like the precursor to the yearly awarding of prizes to nominees on steroids!)
In the Old Testament, the faithful believer is likened to an athlete. 4Maccabees develops the notion that pious believers can be victorious, in spite of persecution and martyrdom. Both athletes and believers can achieve victory.
In the early Church, some Christians were being persecuted and martyred, yet Christianity flourished and expanded. Perhaps this was in part due to others seeing how these Christians had set an example in standing up for their faith (even to the point of their deaths). This counterintuitive notion even still occurs today. In the midst of recent Christian persecution and genocide in Africa, Catholicism (Christianity) has been flourishing.
Update: It seems that Bishop Strickland has been made a “white martyr” who was punished (removed from office) under the Bergoglian Reign of Terror for having the audacity to speak the truth about the deposit of faith and for protesting the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring the ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.’ Evidently, Bishop Strickland refused to be a team player with the Modernists.
There are also other faithful clergy who have been cancelled, laicized, and excommunicated by the Vatican.
Catholics (and Christians) continue to face a soft martyrdom (being canceled) by the woke culture antithetical to Christian values. However, we (and parents) are now winning this race against the evils of cancel culture.
Through the help of the Holy Spirit, the younger generations of seminarians and priests are becoming more conservative and traditionally minded. It seem that the older progressive (and Modernist) clergy are unable to curtail this trend.
For all those who want to get to heaven: Each one of us should seriously evaluate if our actions are sinful. The door into heaven is already narrow to begin with!
In their “outreach” to the LGBTQ community, it seems that the Vatican must necessarily downplay, ignore, and de-stigmatize the sinful nature of homosexuality. No wonder why the Vatican gets criticized for making ambiguous, confusing or misleading statements about Church teachings on social media. This is the battle that faithful Catholics and Christians have to contend with: Does being inclusive also mean accepting sinful behavior? Or is it more compassionate to be truthful in stating what is sinful? We all must remember that one’s eternal mortal soul is at stake! WILL THEY BE ABLE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE?
Each of us must ask ourselves: what do we value more? God’s ways or the world’s ways