ל Races in the Bible. On January 4 I posted on Pastor Whitaker's race-metaphor sermon. I've looked up some relevant passages now. Look for the Greek word "trecho", τρεχω, which has "to run on a race course" as one of its two main meanings (the other being "to go in haste") in Hebrews, I Corinthians, and the other New Testament passages below.
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.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of
sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your
minds. (Hebrews 12: 1-3)
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. (Romans 9: 15-16)
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. (Philemon 2: 16)
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but
this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus. (Philemon 3: 13-14)
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you
are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
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. (Galatians 5: 4-8)
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. (I Corinthians 9: 24-27)
Although we think of running races as a Greek activity, it is also perhaps mentioned in
the Old Testament. The word translated in the King James Version below in Psalm 19 as
"race" is "orach", ארה, which is translated as "way "
26 times, "path"
25 times, and "race" only once. The word in Ecclesiastes is "meyrowts",
מרוצ, its only appearance in the Bible.
(Here is a link to my temporary HTML Hebrew page; I'll be
improving it sometime. Bibleworks is my source for the Hebrew.) Neither mention has
any connection to the
New Testament verses, unless indirectly if "path" and "race" really are the same word
in Hebrew.
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not
to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread
to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet
favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to
them all. (Ecclesiastes 9: 11)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
[
http://php.indiana.edu/~erasmuse/w/04.01.25a.htm .
Erasmusen@yahoo.com. ]
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to
run a race. (Psalm 19: 1-5)
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