Athletics in Corinth

 Paul, and whoever wrote Hebrews, used athletic metaphors to explain spiritual truths. Paul described his efforts as fighting a good fight and finishing a race. The main use of the athletic metaphors was to show that winning the prize requires self discipline, intentional practice, and effort. It does not just happen by itself. 

An interesting fact is that Corinth (modern Korinthos, Greece) had a historical connection to athletics. It was the site of the Isthmian games which began in either 582 or 581 BC/BCE. Just as with the Olympics, the athletes competed in the nude in the sports of chariot races, wresting, boxing, and pankration, similar to modern mixed martial arts. The prizes for winning were garlands or wreaths.

When Corinth was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC/BCE, the games shifted to the city of Sicyon (modern Sikyona, Greece). In 44 BC/BCE, Corinth was rebuilt by Caesar and the games returned to the city 42 or 43 AD. They continued being observed until the 4th century AD/CE.

Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 2:16; Galatians 2:2, 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-26.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Robert Barker: (d. 1645, England) Printer to King James I of England.  In 1631, Barker and Martin Lucas released a reprint of the King James Version which was deemed to be of very poor quality and came to be known as The Wicked Bible because Exodus 20:14 said “Thou shalt commit adultery.”  Barker and Lucas were fined 300 Pounds Sterling and their printer’s licenses were revoked. Only eleven copies are known to survive.

William James O’Reilly: (b. 1949, New York, USA) Television host, author, columnist, political commentator.

Robert I Estienne: (b. 1503, France- d. 1559, aka: Robertus Stephanus) A printer and classical scholar, Estienne was a Catholic convert to Evangelical Protestantism.  He is the first person known to have printed the Bible with numbered verses.  He also published many of John Calvins’s writings.

Clay Morgan Shepherd (b. 1941, North Carolina, USA) NASCAR Sprint Cup race car driver, lay Christian minister.  

Caster Semenya: (b. 1991, South Africa) Female track and field athlete (800 meters) whose gender became a source of contention in 2009 after her dominant performance at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.  The International Association of Athletics Federation has cleared her to continue to compete as a female.  She and her family are members of the Zion Christian Church in South Africa.