AGONE (Strive)
WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ
What is the Word?
The New Testament speaks to us of the reality of the spiritual battle that every Christian is engaged in. Because of this, we find much military language and language of competition or contest. The language of Agone is common in the Gospels as well as Paul’s letters, and encourages us to always be contending for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).
How does the Bible use this word?
Because the Gospel is so intricately connected to the defeat of the powers of sin and death, the language of spiritual battle and struggle is prominent in the scriptures. The noun Agone derives from the noun Ago, which describes in ancient terms a contest or gathering, wherein, a competition of sorts would take place. When converted to a verb it can denote a struggle or a striving or fight. This is where we get the English word Agonize to denote a grueling struggle.
Where in the Bible?
Jesus introduces us to the concept of struggle in his description of struggling to enter his kingdom:
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive (Ἀγωνίζεσθε) to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’”
Luke 13:22-25
For Jesus, the Christian life is the ultimate struggle, as the stakes for this contest cannot be higher. The implications are eternal in this fight, and therefore he tells us to earnestly contend, or strive to enter through the narrow door, who is Christ himself.
Not surprisingly, Paul also understands the Christian life as a spiritual conquest, and thus we see similar language in his letters.
One prominent place that we see this used is in his second letter to the young pastor Timothy:
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight (ἀγῶνα), 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 4:6-8
As Paul nears the end of his time on Earth, his reflections upon his ministry are seen as a fight or race that has now been completed, and his reward awaits him.
Strive for the Faith
As Christians, we are commissioned as participants in a great spiritual conquest, one in which the gates of hell will not prevail against. We should at all times strive and contend for the faith that we have been gifted. At the same time, we should also strive in and for our relationships. We should contend and struggle for our marriages, our friendships, and our families so that our faith might be shown and our victory over sin and death made manifest to the world.