If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I’d miss her.
Paul's use of Athletic imagery
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Paul's use of Athletic imagery, Walter E Henderson Jnr, PhD New Orleans Baptist Seminary, 1996 - 142 pages plus 17 bibliography
The purpose of the thesis is stated in the introduction: "The purpose of this dissertation was to analyze Paul's use of athletic imagery. The historical-grammatical method was used to examine the background of Greco-Roman athletics interpretation of the function of the athletic imagery in light of the historical and exegetical study was offered".
There is a very technical exegesis of the athletic metaphors page 50ff. The writer suggests three functions for the athletic imagery in the Pauline Epistles - the athletic imagery serves a descriptive purpose, an ethical function and also provides some insight into Paul's view of eschatology. This is developed in pages 118-138
Two small points were of interest to me: Quoting Josephus as a source, he informs us that King Herod also took an interest in athletics. He dedicated a festival with athletic competitions to Augustus, who in return, Augustus underwrote the expense of the festival, (Josephus Jewish Antiquities 16.136-141).
The words of Philostratus who wrote concerning the corruption of athletics, "They (trainers] care nothing for the reputation of the athletes, but give advice about the sale or purchase of victory." (Philostratus On Gymnastics 45) show that there is nothing new under the sun.
Overall a very technical piece of work which will only interest the serious academic scholar.