Lexical Summary agón: Contest, struggle, conflict, race Original Word: ἀγών Strong's Exhaustive Concordance conflict, contention, fight, race. From ago; properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety -- conflict, contention, fight, race. see GREEK ago HELPS Word-studies 73 agṓn(a masculine noun, and the root of the English words, "agony," "agonize") – properly, a contest (struggle), a grueling conflict (fight); (figuratively) positive struggle that goes with "fighting the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12) – which literally states, "Struggle (75 /agōnízomai) the good struggle (73 /agṓn) of the (life of) faith." [73 (agṓn) refers to "an (athletic) contest; hence, a struggle (in the soul)" (Souter). "In secular Greek 73 (agṓn) refers to a gathering to see the games, or the place of contest (Homer), or the Olympus games themselves, or some smaller contest in particular – the gymnikos, hippikos, and mousikos – and more generally, any struggle or battle" (Nigel Turner, Christian Words, 81). In the ancient world, athletic contests could be so severe they caused the toughest men to crumble. Indeed, this was common (so Euripedes, Xenophon).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom agó Definition a gathering, contest, struggle NASB Translation conflict (1), fight (2), opposition (1), race (1), struggle (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 73: ἀγώνἀγών, ἀγῶνος, ὁ (ἄγω); 1. a place of assembly (Homer, Iliad 7, 298; 18, 376); specifically, the place in which the Greeks assembled to celebrate solemn games (as the Pythian, the Olympian); hence, 2. a contest, of athletes, runners, charioteers. In a figurative sense, a. in the phrase (used by the Greeks, see τρέχω, b.) τρέχειν τόν ἀγῶνα, Hebrews 12:1, that is to say 'Amid all hindrances let us exert ourselves to the utmost to attain to the goal of perfection set before the followers of Christ'; any struggle with dangers, annoyances, obstacles, standing in the way of faith, holiness, and a desire to spread the gospel: 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Philippians 1:30; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7. b. intense solicitude, anxiety: περί τίνος, Colossians 2:1 (cf. Euripides, Ph. 1350; Polybius 4, 56, 4). On the ethical use of figures borrowed from the Greek Games cf. Grimm on Wis. 4:1; (Howson, Metaphors of St. Paul, Essay iv.; Conyb. and Hows. Life and Epistles of St. Paul, chapter xx.; McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia ἀγών originated in the arena, the place of Olympic-style competition in the Greco-Roman world. It evoked (1) the disciplined preparation of athletes, (2) the intensity of the contest, and (3) the public nature of victory. By the first century the word was also used for legal trials and military conflict. The writers of the New Testament adopt the term to describe the believer’s calling to persevere in gospel mission and personal sanctification. Old Testament Echoes and Septuagint Parallels While ἀγών itself is rare in the Septuagint, the concept of covenant struggle is woven through the Hebrew Scriptures. Jacob “wrestled” at Peniel, David “ran the way” of God’s commandments, and the prophets “contended” with idolatry. The New Testament use of ἀγών therefore stands in continuity with Israel’s history of striving toward the promises of God. New Testament Usage 1. Philippians 1:30—Paul reminds the church, “since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” Their spiritual contest parallels his imprisonment. Key Theological Themes • Perseverance: ἀγών highlights the need for steadfast endurance amid persecution and temptation. Ministry Significance Pastoral labor, doctrinal safeguarding, and missionary advance are all framed as agonizing toil. The term therefore dignifies unseen prayer, administrative endurance, and apologetic clarity as genuine kingdom combat. Historical Reception Early church fathers such as Ignatius and Polycarp frequently called martyrdom “the contest” and looked to Paul’s words as a model for courageous witness. Monastic writers later applied the idea to ascetic discipline, while Reformers highlighted it in preaching on perseverance of the saints. Practical Application for Believers Today • Embrace rigorous spiritual training: Scripture intake, prayer, and fellowship function as daily conditioning. Canonical Harmony From Genesis to Revelation the storyline moves from the garden’s first battle with the serpent to the final triumph where “the one who conquers” inherits all things. ἀγών in the New Testament compresses that redemptive drama into a single word, calling every generation of believers into the same arena until the Lord’s decisive victory is publicly unveiled. Englishman's Concordance Philippians 1:30 N-AMSGRK: τὸν αὐτὸν ἀγῶνα ἔχοντες οἷον NAS: the same conflict which KJV: Having the same conflict which ye saw INT: the same conflict having such as Colossians 2:1 N-AMS 1 Thessalonians 2:2 N-DMS 1 Timothy 6:12 N-AMS 2 Timothy 4:7 N-AMS Hebrews 12:1 N-AMS |
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