I HOPE you like sport!

This summer we’ve had the Euros, best left forgotten from an English point of view, Wimbledon, cricket, Formula One and now we’re experiencing the Rio Olympics and Paralympics. 

The New Testament has a surprising number of references to the Greek games. 

At that time, as well as the Olympic Games at Olympia, there were the Pythian Games at Delphi, the Nemean Games at Argos, (no not the store), and the Isthmian Games near Corinth.

The Isthmian Games were held at Corinth every two years, and as St Paul was there in 50 and 51AD, he would have experienced the excitement in the city. 

Competitions were held in running, chariot racing, horse racing, javelin, boxing, wrestling, discus throwing and shot put. 

These were usually men-only competitions who competed totally naked! 
The prize was not a medal but a so-called ‘corruptible crown.’ 

At Olympia this was a crown of olive leaves, at the Isthmian Games it was a crown of pine leaves, at Delphi a crown of laurel leaves and at Nemea a crown of parsley leaves.

So Paul compares the games to our journey of faith as he writes, “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 for ever.”

And when he was near the end of his life, he wrote, “The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.”

Perhaps the race of life is more of an uphill slog at times, yet there is a point to it all, there is a purpose to life and it is made endurable for us if we appreciate the helping hands of others in the race, and the guidance of a loving God.

JAMES TAYLOR
Ashcroft United Church