I'm Writing About Christian "Agones".

[Michael37]

"Agones?" you say. "Never heard of them!"

"Aha!" I say. "Time you did!" 

ag·on

  (ăg′ŏn, -ōn, ä-gōn′)

n. pl. a·gon·es (ə-gō′nēz)

1. A conflict, especially between the protagonist and antagonist in a work of literature.

2. The part of an ancient Greek drama, especially a comedy, in which two characters engage in verbal dispute.

3. A test of will; a conflict: "Freud's originality stemmed from his aggression and ambition in his agon with biology" (Harold Bloom).

4. A contest in ancient Greece, as in athletics or music, in which prizes were awarded.

---

[Greek agōn; see agony.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Php 1:29-30  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  (30)  Having the same conflict (agōn) which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Col 2:1  For I would that you knew what great conflict (agōn) I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

1Thess 2:2  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. (agōn)

1Tim 6:12  Fight (agōnizomai) the good fight (agōn) of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2Tim 4:7  I have fought (agōnizomai)  a good fight (agōn), I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Heb 12:1  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 (agōn) that is set before us,

1Cor 9:24-25  Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.  (25)  And every man that strives for the mastery (agōnizomai) is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Jude 1:3  Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly (epagōnizomai) for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

So agones are conflicts, contentions, and contests, maybe you've had a few. I know I have, and I expect there will be some more as the clash between God's Will and Satan's will continues. 

[Michael37]

The Greek words translated in English as "contention" and "contentious". 

eris (G2054), "strife, quarrel, especially rivalry, contention, wrangling,"

• 1Cor 1:11  For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions(eris) among you.
• Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions(eris), and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

paroxusmos (G3948), (Eng., "paroxysm"), lit., "a sharpening," hence "a sharpening of the feeling, or action" 

• Acts 15:39  And the contention(paroxusmos) was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

philoneikia (G5379), lit., "love of strife" (phileo, "to love," neikos, "strife"), signifies "eagerness to contend"; hence, a "contention,"

• Luk 22:24  There arose also a contention(philoneikia) among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.

philoneikos (G5380)

• 1Cor 11:16  But if any man seem to be contentious(philoneikos), we have no such custom, neither the ekklesiae of God.

[Fidei Defensor]

So then Is Agony tied to Agon? 

Agony is defined as The Last stages of difficult and painful death like Jesus on the cross. 

But if Agon was the word, it would mean conflict of death, which invokes very different images. Intriguing. 
 

[Michael37]

4 hours ago, Fidei Defensor said:

So then Is Agony tied to Agon? 

Agony is defined as The Last stages of difficult and painful death like Jesus on the cross. 

But if Agon was the word, it would mean conflict of death, which invokes very different images. Intriguing. 
 

You are right to deduce the English word agony is derived from the Greek agon.

Luke 22:44  And being in an agony(agōnia) he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Strongs G74
ἀγωνία
agōnia
ag-o-nee'-ah
From G73; a struggle (properly the state), that is, (figuratively) anguish: - agony.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

I am glad you have made reference to the agonia of Christ @Fidei Defensor

The idea that everything is a breeze once we become Christians is not Scriptural.

[Fidei Defensor]

14 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

You are right to deduce the English word agony is derived from the Greek agon.

Luke 22:44  And being in an agony(agōnia) he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Strongs G74
ἀγωνία
agōnia
ag-o-nee'-ah
From G73; a struggle (properly the state), that is, (figuratively) anguish: - agony.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

I am glad you have made reference to the agonia of Christ @Fidei Defensor

The idea that everything is a breeze once we become Christians is not Scriptural.

Oh that is exciting that Agony cones from Agon! That is probably why in Early Middle Ages the people viewed Jesus as War-Lord of And the Cross is his Sword to conflict and conquer sin; so they probably better understood Agony as conflict. 
 

Indeed Brother, we are told to follow Christ is a cross, “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23), and there are surpassing joys with Him, but also trials, for the apostle warns us if we seek to live godly in Christ we shall be persecuted, “Yea, and all that will live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Christ also as you I am sure know mentioned that we would be betrayed and suffer, and that we must hold fast to the end, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) and “This means that God’s people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12). 

I have great concern for brethren who have not accepted the fact that being a Christian has much Agon and Agony. That there is joy and great contentment and purpose, and hope, but also tempests, trials, and tribulations. 

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, Fidei Defensor said:

Oh that is exciting that Agony cones from Agon! That is probably why in Early Middle Ages the people viewed Jesus as War-Lord of And the Cross is his Sword to conflict and conquer sin; so they probably better understood Agony as conflict. 
 

Indeed Brother, we are told to follow Christ is a cross, “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23), and there are surpassing joys with Him, but also trials, for the apostle warns us if we seek to live godly in Christ we shall be persecuted, “Yea, and all that will live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Christ also as you I am sure know mentioned that we would be betrayed and suffer, and that we must hold fast to the end, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) and “This means that God’s people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12). 

I have great concern for brethren who have not accepted the fact that being a Christian has much Agon and Agony. That there is joy and great contentment and purpose, and hope, but also tempests, trials, and tribulations. 

Interesting that your username means Defender of the Faith @Fidei Defensor

For many years I received a magazine called "Contending Earnestly For The Faith". I was acquainted with the author, Phillip Powell, an ex-Australian AOG Superintendent General Secretary and founder of Christian Witness Ministries. He passed away some years ago and the magazine ceased to be available in NZ. As per its title the magazine exposed many things that were not Scriptural and commended things that were.  

[Fidei Defensor]

1 minute ago, Michael37 said:

Interesting that your username means Defender of the Faith @Fidei Defensor

For many years I received a magazine called "Earnestly Contending For The Faith". I was acquainted with the author, Phillip Powell, an ex-Australian AOG Superintendent and founder of Christian Witness Ministries. He passed away some years ago and the magazine ceased to be available in NZ. As per its title the magazine exposed many things that were not Scriptural and commended things that were.  

Do you have any of those magazines left you could take snap shots of since they arn’t in circulation anymore? I’d been interested to read Phillip Powell. 
 

Ah yes, I chose Fidei Defensor because in Seminary they called me an Apologist, and I am always ready to give an account for my hope, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15), and defend the gospel with Scripture. 

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Fidei Defensor said:

Do you have any of those magazines left you could take snap shots of since they arn’t in circulation anymore? I’d been interested to read Phillip Powell. 
 

Ah yes, I chose Fidei Defensor because in Seminary they called me an Apologist, and I am always ready to give an account for my hope, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15), and defend the gospel with Scripture. 

Ah. I had boxes of back issues at one time but I may have to dive into a deep storage shed to see if I kept any. 

Correction: Phillip Powell was formerly a General Secretary with the Australian AOG, not a Superintendent. My bad.

Doing a search throws up a number of links featuring his "earnest contending".  

Former General Secretary Of AoG In Australia Makes Public Statement About Benny Hinn (deceptioninthechurch.com)

[Omegaman 3.0]

Mounce:

[74] ἀγών agōn 6x place of contest, race-course, stadium; a contest, strife, contention; peril, toil [73]
[75] ἀγωνία agōnia 1x contest, violent struggle; agony, anguish, Lk. 22:44* [74]
[76] ἀγωνίζομαι agōnizomai 8x to be a combatant in the public games; to contend, fight, strive earnestly [75]

Strong's Concordance

agón: a gathering, contest, struggle

Original Word: ἀγών, ῶνος, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: agón
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-one')
Definition: a gathering, contest, struggle
Usage: an (athletic) contest; hence, a struggle (in the soul).

HELPS Word-studies

73 agṓn(a masculine noun, and the root of the English words, "agony," "agonize") – properly, a contest (struggle), a grueling conflict (fight); (figuratively) positive struggle that goes with "fighting the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12) – which literally states, "Struggle (75 /agōnízomai) the good struggle (73 /agṓn) of the (life of) faith."

[73 (agṓn) refers to "an (athletic) contest; hence, a struggle (in the soul)" (Souter).

"In secular Greek 73 (agṓn) refers to a gathering to see the games, or the place of contest (Homer), or the Olympus games themselves, or some smaller contest in particular – the gymnikos, hippikos, and mousikos – and more generally, any struggle or battle" (Nigel Turner, Christian Words, 81).

In the ancient world, athletic contests could be so severe they caused the toughest men to crumble. Indeed, this was common (so Euripedes, Xenophon).]

[Michael37]

On 7/13/2022 at 7:37 PM, Omegaman 3.0 said:

In the ancient world, athletic contests could be so severe they caused the toughest men to crumble. Indeed, this was common (so Euripedes, Xenophon).]

I've been drawn to Paul's epistle to the Colossians of late. 

• Apparently Paul never visited Colosse but heard about the Christians there from Epaphras.

Col 1:3-8  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  (4)  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;  (5)  because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,  (6)  which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;  (7)  as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,  (8)  who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

• Paul wanted the Colossians to know he was in agony for them and for those in Laodicea. 

Col 2:1-5  For I want you to know what a great conflict (agōn) I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,  (2)  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,  (3)  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (4)  Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.  (5)  For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

• Much of the epistle models the qualities that should be present in Christians, and warns against being diverted from these.

Col 2:6-8  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,  (7)  rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.  (8)  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

It doesn't surprise me that Paul was agonising in great conflict for the hearts of the Colossians and Laodiceans to be knit together in love. Such unity is difficult to achieve and maintain.