119. athlésis

Lexicon

athlésis: Contest, struggle, conflict

Original Word: ἄθλησις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: athlésis
Pronunciation: ATH-lay-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (ath'-lay-sis)
Definition: Contest, struggle, conflict
Meaning: a struggling (as in an athletic contest).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fight.

From athleo; a struggle (figuratively) -- fight.

see GREEK athleo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from athleó
Definition
a contest
NASB Translation
conflict (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 119: ἄθλησις

ἄθλησις, (εως, ἡ, contest, combat, (frequently from Polybius down); figuratively, ἄθλησις παθημάτων a struggle with sufferings, trials, Hebrews 10:32; (of martyrdom, Ignatius mart. 4; Clement, mart. 25).

STRONGS NT 119a: ἀθροίζωἀθροίζω: perfect passive participle ἠθροισμένος; (from ἀθρόος, equivalent to θρόος (a noisy crowd, noise), with a copulative (see A, a, 2)); to collect together, assemble; passive to be assembled, to convene: Luke 24:33 L T Tr WH. ((Sophocles) Xenophon, Plato, Polybius, Photius, others; O. T. Apocrypha; sometimes in the Sept. for קָבַץ.) (Compare: ἐπαθροίζω, συναθροίζω).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἀθλέω (athleō), meaning "to contend" or "to struggle," which is related to the noun ἆθλον (athlon), meaning "prize" or "contest."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to ἄθλησις, similar concepts of struggle and perseverance can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures. For example, the Hebrew word יָגַע (yaga, Strong's Hebrew 3021), meaning "to toil" or "to labor," conveys a sense of effort and endurance. Another related term is מִלְחָמָה (milchamah, Strong's Hebrew 4421), meaning "battle" or "war," which can metaphorically represent spiritual struggles. These terms, while not direct equivalents, share thematic similarities with the concept of ἄθλησις in the New Testament.

Usage: The word ἄθλησις appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the endurance and perseverance required in the Christian life, likening it to an athletic contest or struggle.

Context: The Greek term ἄθλησις is used in the New Testament to convey the concept of spiritual struggle or conflict, drawing on the imagery of athletic contests familiar to the Greco-Roman world. This metaphorical use highlights the discipline, perseverance, and dedication required in the Christian faith, akin to that of an athlete striving for victory.

In the Berean Standard Bible, ἄθλησις is found in Hebrews 10:32: "Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering." Here, the author of Hebrews encourages believers to recall their past endurance during times of persecution and hardship, likening their experiences to a contest or struggle. This passage underscores the importance of steadfastness and faithfulness in the face of trials, a theme prevalent throughout the New Testament.

The use of athletic imagery in the New Testament serves to remind believers of the need for spiritual discipline and the pursuit of holiness. Just as athletes train rigorously to compete and win a prize, Christians are called to live lives of dedication and perseverance, striving toward the ultimate goal of eternal life with Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

αθλησιν άθλησιν ἄθλησιν αθροίσατε άθροισον αθροίσω ήθροισεν ηθροίσθησαν athlesin athlēsin áthlesin áthlēsin

Englishman's Concordance

Hebrews 10:32 N-AFS
GRK: φωτισθέντες πολλὴν ἄθλησιν ὑπεμείνατε παθημάτων
NAS: a great conflict of sufferings,
KJV: a great fight of afflictions;
INT: having been enlightened much conflict you endured of sufferings

Strong's Greek 119
1 Occurrence

ἄθλησιν — 1 Occ.