Panhellenic Games and …. St. Paul?
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. “ 1 Cor 9:24-26
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The Apostle Paul’s sports metaphors are familiar to us and are as readily understandable to a present day reader as they would have been to original readers in the early churches at Corinth and Philippi and to Timothy. In Paul’s day, the Roman and Hellenistic world were enthralled by the Panhellenic games. Started in 776 BC with the first Olympics, the games became an “olympiad” - a 4 year cycle of games that lasted until the 4th century AD. The Olympics were held at Olympia and honored the Greek god Zeus. Year 2 were the Isthmian Games honoring the god Poseidon. Year 3 the Pythian Games honoring the god Apollo at Delphi. Year 4 the Nemean games (for the god Zeus) and the Isthmian games again (they were on a 2 year cycle). Then back to the Olympics and the rotation continued. Archeological remains at all 4 locations still show evidence of these ancient games. Stadiums, race tracks, art work and sculpture are attest to the importance of the Panhellenic Games.
Athletes, musician, poets, actors and spectators came from all over the Ancient Greek and Roman world to participate in the games. Not only athletic games, but artistic competitions as well. God placed Paul at the heart of this flow of people from a multitude of places moving through Corinth. Isthmia was just 5 miles from Corinth. Delphi and the Pythian Games were 120 miles from Corinth. Many traveling through the area would have needed the services of a tent maker.
Stadium at Delphi
