[Greek] ἀγωνία (agōnia): contest, great fear, struggle, intense sorrow, anxiety, struggle for victory; Lk.22:44
Nude athletes engaged in a physical contest (agon).
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means contest, struggle for victory, gymnastic exercise, conflict, and concerted effort (in the face of difficulty). Euripides’ Hecuba 314 states “Enough, what will they say, if once more comes a gathering of the army and a contest with the foe?” Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 2.3.15 states “Let me inform you, Cyrus, that I shall enter this contest. I recommend you to enter with alacrity into the competition with these gentlemen in this sort of warfare.” Hippocrates’ De Articulis 11 states “It deserves to be known how a shoulder which is subject to frequent dislocations should be treated. For many persons owing to this accident have been obliged to abandon gymnastic exercises and from the same misfortune have become inept in warlike practices, and have thus perished.” Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.33 states “He was so nervous, and so much worried by the fear, that, in spite of Thracian success, his enterprise would slip from his fingers, if you should intervene before the Phoecians perished, that he made a new bargain with this vile creature.”
Old Testament: This term, infrequently used, means to suffer agony and to show great distress. The 1st Book of Maccabees shows how the Hellenistic Greeks tried to convert the Jews to Greek culture. A gymnasium was built in Jerusalem according to Gentile custom. (1Macc.1:14). Instead of focusing on altar activities, young Jewish men frequented the gymnasium and participated in Greek activities (2Macc.4:14). The Hellenistic philosophers Josephus and Philo make reference to this term. “They uttered these complaints and entreaties with great agony and misery of soul” (Embassy 243). “The king was in great agony and disorder” (Antiquities 11.241). Those who remained in the city suffered a like agony, anxious as they were about the battle in the open country (2Macc.15:19). There was great distress throughout the city (2Macc.3:14).
New Testament: This term, used only once, means to experience intense sorrow (anguish). Jesus goes to the garden of Gethsemene to pray in contemplation and preparation for His own death. Jesus experiences such anguish so as to sweat drops of blood. Jesus was expressing anguish yet remained faithful to the Father in following His path leading to His arrest and eventual crucifixion.
Scripture:
He was in such agony and He prayed so fervently that His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.” Lk.22:44
Jesus prays and contemplates His eventual arrest and crucifixion. In His anguish, Jesus sweats drops of blood.
Conclusion:
Agony, agonize
It was interesting to discover that this term can refer to military combat, mortal combat, athletic competition (games), and gymnastics. Essentially, the common thread of these activities involve the contests of skills and physical conditioning. It is amusing to see Hippocrates as a sports physician talking about separated shoulders. The amateur and professional athlete can both relate to this. The Greek gymnos means naked. Athletes performed nude in an athletic competition (agon).
In the Old Testament culture, this term primarily refers to serious life and death situations. Sports and athletic competitions were not highly held Jewish social values. Athletic competitions and games were present in Hellenistic cultures. In the Maccabeean era, it is interesting to note that the gymnasium becomes a bad thing. Subverting traditional Jewish culture is a very serious matter. Yet, it is important to note the common characteristics of athletic competitions and agony (distress): struggle, competition, perseverance, discipline, and suffering (training), etc.
Jesus also experienced stressful contemplation (anguish) over His impending fate of crucifixion. Jesus’ intentions are more concerned about His victory to redeem humanity, rather than His own death.
Hematidrosis is the physical condition when a person suffers such extreme levels of stress that he sweats drops of blood.
Although His disciples abandoned Him, Jesus ultimately achieved final victory in following the will of the Father. Paul refers to himself as an athlete running the Christian race (life). And yet, Timothy makes references to physical training (bodily exercise) as being of limited value. The gymnasium is not explicitly stated in the New Testament. Perhaps, this is in response to the corrupting Greek Gentile influences from the Old Testament.
Rather than prolonging this agony (post), I will just say “have a good race”!
“Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport…the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat…the human drama of athletic competition”