We know that the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE. Many sports were introduced as well as many included later and are still being added today. In a speech given in 1908, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, said: “The purpose of these Olympiads is less to win than to take part in them.” "A boxer's victory is gained in blood", begins an inscription dating from 1st century BCE. The purpose of the race is to win at any cost. Many have lost their lives and some gave up in the middle of the race or sport.
During Apostle Paul in his 2nd missionary journey, he stayed for 18 months at Corinth (Acts 18:11). Probably games would have been conducted at Isthmia, which is 6 miles distance from Corinth. The games at Isthmia were held twice during the four year Olympic cycle. The city of Corinth was in charge of these games. The events included like running, boxing, wrestling, the pentathlon, and horse and chariot racing. In later times musical and poetry contests were added to the list of events. It is been assumed that Paul as a tent maker, may have made tents for the athletes, officials, and visitors at the games. Paul while writing to the Church at Corinth probably would have picked up athletics and boxing (probably introduced in 688 BCE) to encourage fellow christians. Paul writes, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1Corinthians 9:24-27, NIV). As like many wreaths in the ancient Olympics (as seen in the picture attached), so also are many Crowns that are to be coronated with in the spiritual realm. Let's be continent in our desires, persistent in diffusing our faith and showing endurance in hardest of times. Let us win "Crown of Rejoicing" (1Thessalonians 2:19, Philippians 4:1) for our efforts in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and winning souls for His Kingdom, "Crown of Righteousness" (2Timothy 4:8) for our efforts of being righteous till the end, "Crown of Glory" (1Peter 5:4) for our efforts in Pastoring or Overseeing or Leading a Church to it's best of it's faith, "Crown of Life" (James 1:12, Rev 2:10) for our efforts to endure in times of trouble and "Imperishable Crown" (1Corinthians 9:25) for our consistency in faith.
Now let's travel back to other part of the world, Turkey in Asia. Magnesia, an ancient city located in the Germencik district of Turkey. May be it got it's name because of it's location near to river Maeander. Magnesia is very close to Ephesus, which Apostle Paul stayed in his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys. He probably would have stayed for two and half years (See Acts 18:19 and 19:8,10) in Ephesus. It will be interesting to know that archaeological excavations took place from 1891 to 1893 and when resumed back in 1984, there was an interesting find in the excavations. Orhan Bingol and team from Ankara University, in his find was an ancient stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 30,000 and the length of the track is 189 meters. The stadium was in use till 3rd century. Of the thousands of marble seatings has a specification, they were reserved for a special audience, Ephesians and also for the Physically Challenged people too. Ephesians, who came to support their competitors, wrote into a section of 2500 people that "these seats are reserved for those who came from Ephesus." As like the reserved seats which are destined for a specific audience, so also the believers in the past and in the modern era felt proud of their elect. Paul writing to Romans, addresses such people in Romans 2nd Chapter, "17. Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18. if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19. if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20. an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21. you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?" Paul continuing felt sorry for those bragging about being a Jew. In Romans 9th Chapter, Paul writes, "4. the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. 10. ..Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12. not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13. Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”" Apostle Paul gives a lesson to those proud Jews as well as to the modern predestined Calvinists who brag about being the elect. Apostle Paul in his letter to Ephesians writes in 1st Chapter, "..In love 5. he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- 11. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12. in order that we (Jews), who were the first to put our hope in Christ.. 13. ..you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." And continuing in the 2nd Chapter about the revelation of the mystery, Paul writes, "11. Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)- 12. remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15. by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16. and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Paul finally concludes in the 3rd Chapter about the mystery that the Prophets and the Apostles got from the Lord. He writes, "4. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5. which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel (Jews), members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." So, we are all the gracious generations who have been destined to be seated with the Lord in His glorious realm as was written by Apostle John in the Book of Revelation 3:21, "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne" [at the right hand side of the Lord, Matthew 26:64, Mark 16:19, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, 1Peter 3:22, Ephesians 1:20...].
To conclude, "you know that the Olympic crown is Olive Wreath [some are of Pine and some are of Laural Wreaths; and are also given a jar full of Olive oil as prize at Athens,(added on 14.02.2022 at AM 06:02)], yet many have honoured it above life", wrote the Greek orator Dio Chryostom (CE 40 to 110). "A boxer's victory is gained in blood", begins an inscription dating from 1st Century BCE praising a tough and successful boxer. In an unlikely situation some out of mercy and some out of being a weak contender leave the game. A late 2nd century CE athlete named Marcus Aurelius Asclepiades—who won the Pancratium at many festivals, including the games held at Olympia—boasted in an inscription that he “stopped all (potential) opponents after the first round." An inscription honoring the wrestler Tiberius Claudius Marcianus recounts that at one festival, “when he undressed, all his opponents begged to be dismissed from the contest" for not to contest and take away their prizes. Let's not be sympathetic towards our opponent Satan as like those Olympic contestants in the past or not leave the game in the midway, because (line added on 14.02.2022 at AM 06:20) "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). So, "therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.." (Ephesians 6:13, NIV) and fight a good fight, finish the race and keep the faith (2Timothy 4:7).
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