When Paul reports for the first time in Corinth in the middle of his second missionary journey, Acts 18.2-3, which came Aquila and Priscilla in the occupation of making tents. This fits well with what Paul himself wrote about the same time. For example, in 1 Thessalonians. 1:9, says: "Of course you have, remember our brothers, our toil and hardship, we worked day and night to avoid being a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God." In 2 Thess. 3:7-8, Paul says:"Eat, we were not idle when we were with you, nor do we have to eat without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, working, working so that we do not burden any of you."
Paul has both of these statements or Corinth. Shortly after leaving Corinth, near the end of the third missionary journey, Paul describes his apostolic right in front of which he has benefited spiritually (1 Cor. 9) are supported. Asks the ironic, rhetorical question: "Oonly I and Barnabas who must work for their livelihood "(1 Cor 9: 6)..?
According to Jerome Murphy-O'Connor
At first glance, the trade of a tent-makers seem to be particularly suitable for those whose service is concentrated on the cities, but there was a trend among the craftsmen of the period to be used for specific titles, even though they covered a much wider wide ... , In much the same way as a carpenter of today sometimes describe themselves as a cabinetmaker. Paul was in allProbability of a leather-worker, that his hand could the production of various articles made of this material is as follows: [sandals], gourds for water and wine, pottery, saddles, shields, etc. would have been curtains and leather and a ready market in Corinth (: Texts and Archaeology, 168 St. Paul's Corinth) have passed.
One reason for this is true because the Isthmian Games were held at nearby Isthmia. Second only to the Olympic Games between them the four great PanhellenicThe Isthmian Games were played twice more often than others, which is held every two years. By the time Paul arrived in Corinth, the Isthmian games were 500 years. They did not even during the century, that was pretty much abandoned their traditional host Corinth (146-44 BC) is broken.
Around the same time, Paul coming to Corinth, 50 CE, the games were moved back to Corinth Isthmia. Another festival that cesarean games, was held in conjunction with any other occurrence IsthmianGames. He characterized his place of events. Crowds of people flocked from all parts of the Roman Empire Isthmia, either to participate or watch the races. According to God, a contemporary of Paul (in his speeches, 8.12), sporting events contain the basic strokes of the Isthmian games, wrestling, jumping, boxing, hurling the spear and threw the disc.
At one time or another in the history of games, including more horse racing events, car races, PoetryReading, theater, playing singing, playing the lyre and flute, and a painting competition. Yacht race near the Saronic Gulf has a feature not present the games of Olympia, Delphi, Nemea e. Events were planned for women and men, and also for children. Large amounts of money change hands, not only by players who have lost anyway, but even by those who lavished gifts on the winner.
Isthmia Excavations began in 1883 under Paul Monceaux. Were renewed in1930 BS Jenkins and H. Megaw. These early efforts gave only poor results. Oscar Broneer, however, that the site excavated 1959-1967, discovered the Temple of Poseidon, porticoes, the sanctuary of Palaemon, two stages, a lot sooner than others, and a Hellenistic settlement in the vicinity "Rachi". One of the assistants Broneer, Elizabeth Gebhard dug into the theater. 1967-1976 Dug, P. Clement, the Roman baths and other buildings. Ms. Gebhard in 1980 and1989 for the central sanctuary and a prehistoric settlement near the ruins "Rachi".
The archaeologists could find no trace of permanent houses for the masses attended games in the first century AD These were only built in the second century. Faced with the choice or walking several miles a day to witness the events, or purchasing a tent, and hundreds if not thousands, I prefer the second. In other words, Corinth, one of the best placesto open in the Mediterranean world of Paul a tent-maker shop. Small shops like his (about 10 feet by 10 feet) aligned to the market in the Hellenistic cities of the Empire.
Paul has the games, while he lived in Corinth? We have no way of knowing for sure. The games were opened with a sacrifice to Poseidon as patron god of residence. In addition, many of the competitions conducted in the nude for the men and women were likely to be the weakest ofDresses. One would expect that such a shameful insult to the jew / Christian scruples. But Murphy-O'Connor says:
It 'hard to decide whether Paul himself took part in the games. Palestinian-Jewish opposition to such a show is well documented ... but we can not assume that the same attitude that has prevailed in the Diaspora. When Philo felt free to participate in an all-in fight (Quod omnis PROBIS, 26), we can be sure that many Hellenized Jews had no qualms about participating in the games. Jewshad specially reserved seats in the theater at Miletus in western Asia Minor .... (17).
What we know for sure is that Paul uses the familiar with the games as a source of images in his teaching. An examination of his speeches and letters in chronological order shows how a series of allusions to athletic competition. (I bold allusions and offer more literal translations, if necessary).
Provided prior to arrival in Corinth, in a sermon at Antioch in Pisidia(Acts 13:25), Paul uses "(race) course" (in greek entrance passage, behind the word "rollerdrome" and "race track") as a metaphor for God's purpose for the life of John the Baptist: "And while John finished his course, he kept saying, who do you think that I'm not him. "
Years later, Paul would use the same images again, to find its meaning in life. As a farewell, the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20:24), Paul says, "But I think my life is worth nothing to me, if onlycan finish the course and complete the service I received from the Lord Jesus -. to testify the gospel of the grace of God "
In Galatians 2:2, Paul describes as soon as a visit to Jerusalem, he writes, "I. .. before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. But I did it in private to those who seemed to be the leader, by the fear that I run or had run my race in vain. "Later, in the same book (5:7), he observes," They ran a good race. Who cut for you andbrought you from obeying the truth? "
These metaphors Paul employs, before he ever arrived in Corinth. The longest transition occurs, but in First Corinthians 9:24-27. Shortly after completing his visit religious foundation at Corinth, Paul urges the Corinthians:
Do not you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Performed in order to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it for a crown, it will not last;But we do it for a crown that will last forever. That's why I do not like a man running aimlessly run, I did not like a man beating the air fight. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after preaching to others, I still do not become disqualified.
In previous centuries, among other things, the crown (in greek: Stephanos) as a prize in Isthmia was made of fir branches, showed how good is on the back of the coins and contemporary sculptures in Isthmia. The jawsast crown still the icon of the Isthmian games will also be present when evidence that a Selinon of various plants (a plant similar to celery or parsley) in the first century AD was a votive sculpture celebrates the victory Isthmian crown shows a series of materials plants, including pines and selinon. This fits very well with the phrase: "the Crown, not the least," or, literally, "corruptible crown". At a time when athletes received Isthmian herbsCrown, had already faded.
In some of Paul's letters he uses the "fight" or "competitive" (in greek agon, from which "torture", "torture" s). In Rome. 15:30, for example, "I beseech you, brethren, our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Similar passages occur in his letters Paul wrote from prison later (cf. Eph 6.12;. Col. 1:29, 2:01, 4:12;. Phil. 1:30) and in which he wrote after he was released (1 Tim 4.10.;6:12).
In one of those letters of the same prison (Phil 3:13-14) applies, the images of his experience racial Paul: "But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, I press on toward the winning goal for the prize for which God has called me to heaven in Christ Jesus. "
The word translated "prize" (from greek: brabeion) used a minimum of three Greek words to describe the prize for the winner of a competition. The context shows that what PaulReference to forget its past successes, not its past mistakes. In contrast to many preachers use it, this verse does not say: "Do not discourage your past failures of the profits." He says the opposite: "You do not want on your" "" record a trace benefits. Each race is a new breed, and all the riders, the samples must also prove their worth all over again. "
Like Paul, once again, briefly imprisoned before his execution, he writes in his latest letter (2 Timothy 4:7-8).:
I had the good fight (agon) fought, I completed the course (dromos), I have kept the faith. What remains is for me the crown (Stephanos), the righteousness which the Lord to give me that day that will be given a fair judge, and not only did it give me, but for those who love his show.
Just as in modern times, has the highest ranking officials present for the honor of the awards, said Paul expects that JesusAward him his crown for his victory in the Christian "race."
All this may be some principles, some "rules based" economy:
Despite the victory of Christ on the Cross and its supply of forgiveness because of the Christian life continues to be good and evil to a competition. It 'a wrestling match with the devil, in which the stakes are high and the risk of loss is real (Ephesians 6:12). God wants us to win this competition, and made all preparations for our success. Morewe ourselves must be willing to undergo the discipline and rigorous training to provide, upon receipt of the prize (1 Cor. 9:24-25). God has taken, he wants us to follow along (Acts 20:24). The boundaries of the course who coined by His moral will - we will move beyond the limits when we commit sins or "guilt." Within this moral line, but we have considerable freedom to our own judgments on how best to "run our race" practice (2 Tim. 4:7). Death is theFinish Line and eternal life with Christ in the prize (Philippians 3:13-14;. 2 Timothy 4:8). In a sense we are already winners, as soon as the race starts. In the words of Paul, we "super champion" by him, of us "(Romans 8:37) loved. However, we still need to avoid running in the race and disqualified (1 Cor. 9:26-27).
Where are you in your Christian race? You're behind the scenes? Maybe you're turning the last corner and stared at the finish line ahead of me. Or maybeyou're still in the stands watching the others running the race.
Wherever you are, God is the challenge for you to get in the race to run, with everything you have, and cross the finish line victorious. It allows you to equip and train. But you must do your part to help: Take your Christian life seriously, listen to read the "Rules" and obey your coach. Then RUN!
Want to dig deeper?
Here are some sources you should:
1962 Oscar Broneer. "The Isthmian VictoryCrown. "American Journal of Archaeology. 66:259 ff (See also Broneer many other writings of Isthmia.)
1967 Pfitzner, Victor C. Paul Agon, and the reason: Traditional athletic images in Pauline literature. Leiden: EJ Brill. (Thesis for the evangelical Theological Faculty of Münster, Westphalia, Germany)
1973 Elizabeth Gebhard. The theater at Isthmia. Chicago: University of Chicago.
1983 Jerome Murphy-O'Connor. St. Paul's Corinth: Texts andArchaeology. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glaser.
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