from ἄγω; properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety:--conflict, contention, fight, race.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **agṓn**, represented by `{{G73}}`, is derived from a word meaning a place of assembly. By implication, it refers to a **contest**, **conflict**, **fight**, or **race**. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. The term conveys a sense of intense effort, struggle, or anxiety, whether in a public contest or an internal spiritual battle.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the New Testament, `{{G73}}` is used to describe various forms of struggle. Paul speaks of the great **conflict** he has for the believers in Colossae, highlighting an inner anxiety and effort on their behalf [[Colossians 2:1]]. He also refers to the external opposition faced in ministry, such as the "much **contention**" endured while preaching the gospel [[1 Thessalonians 2:2]] and the "same **conflict**" the Philippians witnessed in him [[Philippians 1:30]]. The term is also used metaphorically as an athletic contest, where believers are exhorted to "run with patience the **race**" set before them [[Hebrews 12:1]] and to "Fight the good **fight** of faith" [[1 Timothy 6:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the nature of this spiritual struggle:
* `{{G75}}` **agōnízomai** (to struggle, fight, strive): This is the verb form of `{{G73}}` and emphasizes the active effort involved. Paul uses it in his final testimony, "I have **fought** a good fight" [[2 Timothy 4:7]], and to describe his own ministry, "striving according to his working" [[Colossians 1:29]].
* `{{G1408}}` **drómos** (a race, career): This word is used to describe the "course" of one's life or ministry. It appears alongside `{{G73}}` when Paul states, "I have finished my **course**" [[2 Timothy 4:7]], reinforcing the imagery of the Christian life as an endurance race.
* `{{G5281}}` **hypomonḗ** (cheerful endurance, constancy, patience): This term describes the quality needed to endure the `{{G73}}`. It is explicitly linked in the exhortation to "run with **patience** the race that is set before us" [[Hebrews 12:1]], showing that the struggle of faith requires hopeful endurance.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G73}}` is centered on the nature of the Christian life as an active and often difficult endeavor.
* **The Spiritual Contest:** The Christian journey is depicted not as passive, but as a **fight** or **race** that requires deliberate effort and focus. Paul instructs Timothy to "**Fight** the good **fight** of faith" [[1 Timothy 6:12]], framing faithfulness as a prize to be contended for.
* **The Cost of Ministry:** The word highlights the reality of opposition and internal burden associated with serving God. Paul’s great **conflict** for the churches [[Colossians 2:1]] and the **contention** he faced [[1 Thessalonians 2:2]] illustrate that leadership involves intense spiritual struggle.
* **A Call to Endurance:** The imagery of the `{{G73}}` as a **race** is a call to perseverance. It requires laying aside every weight and sin to run with "patience," looking toward the finish line [[Hebrews 12:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G73}}` provides a powerful metaphor for the Christian experience. It moves beyond a simple definition of a contest to encompass the internal anxiety for fellow believers, the external opposition in ministry, and the lifelong spiritual **race** of faith. The word **agṓn** serves as a reminder that the path of a believer is one of purposeful struggle, demanding active participation, endurance, and unwavering commitment to the end.
TRV