contend / compete

In the Second Letter to Timothy 4:7 (NABRE), Paul describes his work spreading the Gospel as an athletic contest or competition that’s nearing completion. This view of serving God may seem foreign to us at first. In a contest, there are winners and losers, a view that may be challenging to how we are comfortable looking at God.

The Greek word that Paul uses to describe his contest or struggle is ἀγωνίζομαι (agonizomai), which comes from the same Greek root as the English word “agony.” This type of struggle comes with training and discipline leading up to the competition and direct struggle against others.

The competition imagined here by Paul and also by Jesus isn’t against others also trying to do God’s will. We don’t lose when others serve God better than we do. We rather are struggling against the world and those who would prefer that God not be served and the Gospel not be preached.

Consider where in your life you’ve had to fight or struggle to serve God.

you also may like our study of the Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.

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