© 12 Colin Melbourne
Olympic Biblical Metaphors
Q: London and Rio Olympic Games: I was wondering if the ancient Olympics are mentioned in the Bible?
A: Yes, the Games of ancient Greece are alluded to many times, especially in Paul’s Epistles.
The games are not endorsed by scripture, because they were, and still are, utterly Pagan, and devoted to demons.
The Holy Spirit simply uses competitive athletic metaphors to encourage believers to be wholehearted and single-minded for Christ.
Olympic History
A brief history of the Olympic Games, followed by some scriptures
<< The ruins at Olympia, Greece, today.
The Greek Games were established in the year 776 Before Christ, and held continuously for almost twelve hundred years, until the third century AD.
The nominally “Christian” Roman Emperor Theodosius banned them because of their Pagan nature. (The modern Olympic Games were only reinstated in 1896.)
Alexander the Great‘s Greek Empire brought Hellenistic culture to many Mediterranean and Asian nations, so the Greek Games were well known to New Testament writers.
The Bible Connection
Paul spent much of his ministry on the Corinthian Isthmus, where Greeks held the Isthmian Games. He, and the young Church, would have been familiar with the cycles of Greek Games.
There’s no doubt that his metaphorical references to competitive running, and boxing, referred to the Greek Games composing the Olympiad.
All Empires Are Doomed
The Greek Empire soon crumbled, as all empires do, succeeded by the Roman Empire, which also held athletic games similar to the Greeks. The Greeks favoured participation, the Romans preferred spectating.
The Greek Olympiads honoured Pagan demons; Zeus and his son Apollo, their chief demonic deities.
Zeus: Supreme Greek Idol
<< This photo shows the mason’s workshop where an idol of the Greek demon, Zeus, was chiselled, and then installed in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
Nike: The Sports Shoe Idol
In his right hand Zeus held the demon Nike, whom you may have heard about.
Olympia
The Olympiads took place in four locations, the main one being the Plain of Olympia, surrounded by hills forming a natural amphitheatre for the Stadium.
The ancient games were originally for Greeks only, who travelled from the Alexandrian Empire to train and compete at Olympia.
Participating was taken so seriously that a truce was called in numerous Greek wars to allow participants to travel home unmolested.
Elaborate gymnasiums were built to house competitors for the required ten-month training periods.
No Peeping Ladies!
The events were for men only (without any clothes!) Women were forbidden to attend on pain of death. Steady Doris
Strict rules were enforced for the disciplines; running, boxing, wrestling, chariot racing, discus, shot, and javelin throwing, with fines for those caught cheating.
Scriptural References to the Olympics
Some scriptures using the Greek Games as a trope, or comparison;
The Holy Ghost through Paul advises Timothy and us in 2 Tim. 2:3-5 KJV;
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Chariots of Fire: Is an Oscar-winning film depicting Eric Liddell’s 1924 Olympic Games. True to his Presbyterian faith, Eric refused to run the 100 metres final on a Sunday. He later became a missionary in China. A powerful tool for your outreach.
Total Dedication
God combines the military soldier metaphor with competitive athletic striving for a crown, and abiding by the rules.
The prize for winning in the ancient Greek Olympiads was a mere crown of Laurel leaves, or wild celery! Though successful competitors were feted like minor deities and gifts bestowed on them.
The clear point for Christians is to apply similar sanctification and dedication to following and obeying Christ as LORD.
Running to Win
A further example of the Lord using those metaphors to make the same points 1 Co. 9:22-27 KJV;
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The athletic running thought is brought in, and also beating the air, which alludes to boxing in the ancient Olympiad. Instead of padded gloves, boxers wrapped leather thongs studded with metal around their fists! Tough, but if you killed your opponent, you were disqualified for the prize.
Living Scarifices: Not Dead Ones
The ancient Greek Olympiads were devoted to Pagan gods (demons), and always began with blood sacrifices. The Holy Ghost brought this to mind, writing through Paul, speaking of his life as an offering, and again metaphorically, fighting, wrestling or boxing, and competing on a course, with a crown as his reward. He likens the Christian walk in this fallen world to competing to win the Olympics. 2 Tim. 4:6-8 KJV;
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Exercise is Good: Godliness is Better
Next we see an allusion to muscle bound athletes and body-builders 1 Tim. 4:6-8 KJV;
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
God the Holy Ghost teaches us there’s some profit in bodily exercise, but eternal benefit in godliness. God wants us to maintain a fit healthy body, not become fat lardy couch potatoes. But far more important is to become more and more like Christ, which brings eternal rewards and pleasure.
You can readily perceive the athletic metaphors in the following New Covenant scriptures. Heb. 12:1-2 KJV; running a long distance race…
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Phil. 2:16-17 KJV Not competing in vain…
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Gal. 2:2 KJV Not running in vain…
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Gal. 5:5-9 KJV Running well…
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Jas. 1:12 KJV Receiving the prized crown…
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
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© 12 Colin Melbourne
