[B-Greek] TRECHO versus DIWKW
spencerj76 at aol.com
spencerj76 at aol.com
Fri Mar 18 10:59:15 EDT 2011
18 March 2011
Friends:
To add to the discussion, David J. Williams, in his book Paul's Metaphors: Their Context and Character (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999), has an excellent and well-documented chapter on "Public Shows and Sporting Events." He takes the metaphor of Philippians 3:13-14 and the "pursuit" there to be that of a chariot race: "Philippians 3:13-14 describes the charioteer, intent on the race, his eyes fixed on the front, not daring to look behind lest the slightest pressure ont he reins (wapped around his body) produce a false move and cause him to lose the race and possibly his life" (p. 262). (Can we think of like the famous chariot race in the movie "Ben-Hur"?) Williams takes DIWKW to mean "drive on" [toward the finish line] at Phil. 3:14. Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia; would chariot races have been characteristic of that location? Was there a hippodrome there? List members may have more resources than I on such questions.
On the other hand, Corinth was, if I recall correctly, near the site of Isthmian games featuring track and field events, and much has been done archaeologically at that site. Again, if I recall correctly, the athletes who competed in such events were amateurs, who may have prepared themselves full-time for weeks or even months prior to the games but who had other usual occupations. So, if I may extend the thought a step further, there's more of a level playing field for track and field events, and more of the idea that "we're all running this race" together in 1 Cor., whereas in a chariot race, I'd guess that competing there involved a more specialized skill and one not generally available, so if Williams is correct in his interpretation, the idea would have more to do with single-minded pursuit and concentration.
1 Cor. 9:24, it seems to me, has to do with the way a person runs--for example, staying in the lines, not getting tripped up, running to one's utmost, doing the best you can, and so on; Phil. 3:13-14 has more to do with single-minded pursuit of the goal (more of an "eyes on the prize" idea).
Hope this is helpful to list readers.
Best wishes,
Jeremy Spencer
Pastor
Odessa Baptist Church
Odessa, NY
-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Conrad <cwconrad2 at mac.com>
To: Billy Shaw <billyspdfs at yahoo.com>
Cc: Biblical Greek List <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 8:24 am
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] TRECHO versus DIWKW
n Mar 15, 2011, at 6:49 PM, Billy Shaw wrote:
> Dear List,
I am studying I Cor. 9:24 and interested that TRECHONTES from TRECHO is the
erb
used here and in the other occurence of BRABEION (Phi. 3:14) DIWKW is used.
I've looked at some of the basic resources (Robertson, Louw/Nida, BGAD) but
wanted to hear from the list as to the finer points. I guess what I'm
ondering
is - Is the primary difference in the form of sport or in the extent of
exertion?
I see this question has gone unanswered for several days. Perhaps if I attempt
response, others will "join me on the track." Let's check the text of the
wo passages in question first:
1Cor. 9:24 Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν
ρέχουσιν, εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον; οὕτως τρέχετε ἵνα καταλάβητε.
1Cor. 9:24 OUK OIDATE hOTI hOI EN STADIWi TRECONTES PANTES
EN TRECOUSIN, hEIS DE LAMBANEI TO BRABEION; hOUTWS TRECETE
INA KATALABHTE.]
Phil. 3:14 κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω εἰς τὸ βραβεῖον τῆς ἄνω κλήσεως τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν
ριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. [Phil. 3:14 KATA SKOPON DIWKW EIS TO BRABEION
HS ANW KLHSEWS TOU QEOU EN CRISTWi IHSOU.]
The βραβεῖον [BRABEION] is the prize won by the winning racer.
ρέχω [TRECW] is the more general word for "run."
ιώκω [DIWKW] more specifically means "pursue (an objective)"
he race track is clearly the metaphor involved in both passages. I think we
ight say that DIWKEIN = TRECEIN hWSTE TO BRABEION LABESQAI.
hat has always struck me as strange about Paul's preference for this
etaphor is that it is essentially a competitive one, as he clearly notes
n "but one alone gets the prize" -- yet at the same time he seems to urge
ll his listeners to participate in the race and seek to win the prize. I guess
hat what he seeks to instill in all is an intense drive toward the goal
ather than competition among the racers.
arl W. Conrad
epartment of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
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