Chapter 7
| 1 Ὥστε οὖν, ἀδελφοί μου, ἀγωνισώμεθα εἰδότες, ὅτι ἐν χερσὶν ὁ ἀγὼν καὶ ὅτι εἰς τοὺς φθαρτοὺς ἀγῶνας καταπλέουσιν πολλοί, ἀλλ' οὐ πάντες στεφανοῦνται, εἰ μὴ οἱ πολλὰ κοπιάσαντες καὶ καλῶς ἀγωνισάμενοι. |
So then, my brothers, we should compete, knowing that the competition is at hand. While many come to enter the earthly competitions, yet not all are crowned, but only those who have trained hard and competed well. |
| 2 ἡμεῖς οὖν ἀγωνισώμεθα, ἵνα πάντες στεφανωθῶμεν. | Let us then compete in order that we may all be crowned. |
|
3 ὥστε
θέωμεν
τὴν
ὁδὸν
τὴν
εὐθεῖαν,
ἀγῶνα
τὸν
ἄφθαρτον,
καὶ
πολλοὶ
εἰς
αὐτὸν
καταπλεύσωμεν
καὶ
ἀγωνισώμεθα,
ἵνα
καὶ
στεφανωθῶμεν·
καὶ εἰ μὴ δυνάμεθα πάντες στεφανωθῆναι, κἂν ἐγγὺς τοῦ στεφάνου γενώμεθα. |
Therefore, we should run the straight course, the incorruptible competition.
And may many enlist and compete in it in order that we are also crowned. And if we are not all able to be crowned, let us at least come close to the victory wreath. |
| 4 εἰδέναι ἡμᾶς δεῖ, ὅτι ὁ τὸν φθαρτὸν ἀγῶνα ἀγωνιζόμενος, ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ φθείρων, μαστιγωθεὶς αἴρεται καὶ ἔξω βάλλεται τοῦ σταδίου. | It is necessary for us to know that if the one who competes in the perishable contest is found cheating, he is flogged, disqualified, and thrown out of the stadium. |
| 5 τί δοκεῖτε; ὁ τὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας ἀγῶνα φθείρας τί παθεῖται; |
What do you think? What will be done to the one who cheats in the imperishable contest? |
| 6 τῶν γὰρ μὴ τηρησάντων, φησίν, τὴν σφραγῖδα ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτήσει καὶ τὸ πῦρ αὐτῶν οὐ σβεσθήσεται, καὶ ἔσονται εἰς ὅρασιν πάσῃ σαρκί. | For of those who have not kept the seal, He says, “Their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and they will be for a spectacle for all flesh” {Isa. 66:24; see Mark 9:48}. |
Summary
In this passage, the author employs popular athletic imagery—a common motif in Greco-Roman culture and Pauline epistles (e.g., 1 Cor 9:24–27, 2 Tim 4:7–8)—to urge Christians toward diligent spiritual discipline.He contrasts the temporary, corruptible athletic games of the Roman world with the eternal, "incorruptible contest" of the Christian life.
Warning against spiritual compromise or cheating, he notes that while disqualified earthly athletes face physical flogging and expulsion from the stadium, those who violate their baptismal commitment ("the seal") face severe eschatological judgment.
Significant Greek Expressions
ἀγωνισώμεθα / ὁ ἀγών ("let us contend" / "the contest"):
From ἀγωνίζομαι and ἀγών (the root of the English word agony). It denotes a intense athletic match or struggle, framing the Christian moral life as a rigorous, deliberate athletic effort requiring wholehearted commitment.
τοὺς φθαρτοὺς ἀγῶνας ("corruptible/perishable contests"): Refers to the ancient Greek games (such as the Isthmian or Olympic games) where athletes competed for perishable wreaths (στεφάνους). The author contrasts these temporal games with the ἀγὼν ἄφθαρτος ("incorruptible contest") of eternal life.
καταπλέουσιν / καταπλεύσωμεν ("voyage / sail to port"): From καταπλέω, referring to competitors arriving by ship at harbor cities (like Corinth) to participate in regional athletic games. The author uses this familiar transport metaphor for believers gathering to engage in their spiritual contest.
κἂν ἐγγὺς τοῦ στεφάνου γενώμεθα ("even if we may be near the crown"): An encouraging pastoral note: even if a believer does not achieve the highest standard of spiritual victory or martyrdom, they should strive with all their might to at least be found close to receiving the reward (στέφανος).
ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ φθείρων ("if he is found cheating / corrupting [the rules]"): In ancient games, athletes who violated the rules (e.g., through bribery, foul play, or breaking training rules) were publicly beaten (μαστιγωθείς) and expelled (ἔξω βάλλεται τοῦ σταδίου). The author uses this real-world severity to heighten the stakes of moral failure in the church.
τὴν σφραγῖδα ("the seal"): A standard early Christian term for baptism (cf. 2 Clem 6:9; Hermas, Similitudes 9.16). Baptism was viewed as the divine mark or seal of ownership on a believer's soul, which must be kept intact and uncorrupted through holy living.
ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν... τὸ πῦρ ("their worm... their fire"): A direct citation of Isaiah 66:24 (also quoted in Mark 9:48), describing the final punishment of those who forfeit their baptismal seal through unrepentant sin.