If the champion of Christ were truly unbeatable, irresistible, and magnificent in every generation and virtue, as it is written, "But all these things we overcome by the power of Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37)! What does "all these things" signify? There are champions referred to as youths, young men, and fathers—referred to in Greek as παΐδες, άγένεοι, and άνδρες. Scripture acknowledges the stages of these athletes; for example, David states, "Turn not Thy face away from Thy young man" (Psalms 68:18), and "I have howled young and grown old" (Psalms 36:25). Then there are the words of John: "I write to you, young men, because you have come to know the Father. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning" (1 John 2:13). Having achieved maturity in faith, he addressed the brethren, illustrating that their growth in faith and godliness marked them as mature. This is an age characterized by virtues rather than weaknesses; for a youth who learns about God, the Father of Virtues, is not lacking in virtue. These young people resemble that Youth who, before speaking the words "father" and "mother," seized the strength of Damascus and the armor of Samaria (Isaiah 8:4). He is the Child born to us, the Son given to us; His government rests on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6). He Himself instructed us that childhood embodies virtue, stating, "Let them go, and do not hinder children from coming to Me" (Matthew 19:14); and elsewhere, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and be as this child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).
Children, due to their physical vigor, can sometimes triumph over their elders, although, considering their youth, a young boy might not grasp the intricacies of wrestling or endure a fierce contest. Yet, we know that young people often vanquish those who may be heavier than they are, for youthful zeal can compensate for the disadvantage of age. Such are the youth; such are the strong in spirit. Scripture recalls Paul's youth before his conversion and the youth of Eutychus (Acts 7:58; 20:9-12), who, during Paul's preaching, fell from the third story while overwhelmed by sleep but was restored to life. Scripture also recounts about the young man John, who reclined at Jesus’ side and showed such strength that he was unafraid of persecution and conquered evil. John left his earthly father in his youth to follow the eternal Father, becoming the young man who, having cast aside a veil, followed the Lord during His suffering (John 13:23; Matthew 4:21-22; Mark 14:51). In his later years, John recognized that the Word of God was from the beginning and remains eternally (John 1:1-2), demonstrating that it resides within him.
The Scriptures further enlighten us about spiritual men. As the prophet Agabus exclaimed, "The man whose girdle this is, so shall the Jews bind in Jerusalem" (Acts 21:11). Festus remarked about Paul: "Here is the man whom Felix left in bonds" (Acts 25:14). Before his sufferings, Paul was labeled a young man, but through them, he became known as a husband, having completed his earthly journey and drawn near to the crown.
We have thus learned at what age individuals strive fervently for faith and godliness. Now let us explore the various forms of contests, as the Scriptures incessantly teach us. In wrestling, some athletes engage in straightforward and lawful grappling, with no strikes permitted; these are called wrestlers. Others utilize strong and vigorous blows with their hands and feet, and even throw sand, engaging in any permitted technique; they are called all-rounders. The third category employs a cesta, a belt laden with lead, to strike, and are known as fist fighters. The Apostle Paul personally encountered all these forms of competition, as he articulated. In one letter, he wrote, "Because our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against powers, and to be brief, against the spirits of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). The term “struggle” is commonly found in most Latin texts, while in all Greek scripts, it is written as πάλη, correlating to the Latin term lucta. This struggle truly encompasses the overcoming of flesh, blood, and heavenly evil spirits through patience, and control over one’s body and mind. Instruments of the devil include anger, wrath, and murder.
In another epistle, Paul recounted being beaten beyond measure: "I was beaten without measure and many times nigh unto death" (2 Corinthians 11:23), nearly losing his life in Jerusalem (Acts 21:30-23:2), until soldiers intervened to halt the Jews’ assault on him. Ananias, the high priest, commanded those present to strike Paul on the face; Paul responded, "God will smite thee, thou whitewashed wall! For thou sittest to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law" (Acts 23:3). The apostle clearly knew how to defend against blows, inflicting pain on the high priest, and although he himself endured physical suffering, he countered the blow that Christ inflicted on his soul. In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul expressed, "And therefore I run, not as one uncertain; I fight, not as one that beats the air" (1 Corinthians 9:26). The Latin word 'enitor' is akin to the Greek term πυκκτεύω; indeed, as a skilled fist-fighter, he struck not the air, but rather the evil spirits of the heavens and Jewish leaders who failed to recognize Jesus as the head of all creation. Thus, in every contest, the apostle was tested, earning a crown and completing the race of life. Hence he declares, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Christ encompasses those who, in their youth, triumphed over more mature years. Daniel, a spirited young man, revealed the deceit of the Jewish elders and, through his victory, condemned them to death (Daniel 13).
To Christ belong others who contended before their birth in their mothers' wombs: Jacob, who overcame his brother Esau, emerged from his mother's womb as a sign of victory, trampling on his elder brother's heel (Genesis 25:22-34; Hosea 12:3). Jeremiah was sanctified in utero and tested (Jeremiah 1:5). John the Baptist, even in his mother’s womb, sensed the presence of the Lord of the struggle, crying out joyously, indicating his reward for a declaration of faith. He was rightly destined for the crown of victory, for he was the first to bear witness to Christ, heralding virtue. Truly magnificent is the herald who inspires others to strive! Blessed is the herald whose powerful voice resonates so strongly that the heavenly mysteries respond (Matthew 3:17). What could be more significant? John's proclamation shook the earth and filled the heavens, earning him the title “voice” as his sacred words preceded the Word of God, as he proclaimed, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness" (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3). Thus proclaimed the prophet Isaiah, affirmed by John’s testimony. We recall the herald’s call, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Isaiah 40:3). It is a unique and resonant voice that all can hear, so sweet that it warms the hearts of many. The Lord empowered His righteous athletes to prevail, assuring us He never abandons those who belong to Him. The prophet added, "I was young and grew old" (Psalms 36:25); thus it appears in our translations. However, in some versions, following the Greek manuscripts, it reads, "I was young, and behold, I grew old, and I did NOT SEE the righteous forsaken, nor his offspring begging bread" (Psalms 36:25). To those discerning, the essence is clear: David, during his life, did not observe the righteous abandoned. Yet, life is fleeting, and such an assertion can seem unreliable; we witness the righteous abandoned while the forces of this world seek to persecute them, and few have the courage to assist them in their time of need, witnessing their fear or distress. Job spoke of this abandonment: "My brethren have forsaken me; they recognize strangers as their own more than me, and my friends have become disgraceful… And they that know my name have forgotten me" (Job 19:13, 14). David was not merely deserted by his friends and neighbors, as they even waged war against him! He lamented, "My friends and sincere ones against me have drawn near and stood up" (Psalms 37:12). Therefore, if in this age we observe the righteous left behind, does this imply David contradicted himself? Or do you not realize that even a righteous person left behind in this world is never forsaken by the Lord? Even Job, when afflicted, was not abandoned by the Lord, who honored him amidst the assembly of angels (Job 2:8). The Lord permitted Job to endure trials for the sake of the crown, allowing physical pains to test him while delivering his spirit from them. Likewise, God did not forsake David; He bestowed upon David the kingdom and dominion over the chosen people, even when David's sons sought his life and exiled him from the throne, which he rightfully reclaimed through victory.
The Lord did not abandon Jacob, Elijah, Elisha, or John the Baptist, nor those who wandered in goatskins through deserts and mountains, in caves and ravines of the earth (Hebrews 11:38), enduring punishment and severe trials. When Jacob fled from his brother, he wandered alone in the wilderness, fell asleep, and, upon awakening, beheld a multitude of heavenly soldiers, declaring, "This place shall be called the Militia of angels" (Genesis 32:2). It was insufficient for him to name it "militia"; he designated it "Militia," emphasizing such a significant assembly. Do you see? Jacob believed he was alone, yet he was accompanied by the multitude of the heavenly army, as were our forefathers in the days of Moses. According to Scripture, they were followed by the Rock, that they might not thirst in the wilderness. We read in Exodus, "When the people began to be thirsty, Moses struck the Rock with the rod, and water flowed out, and the people of God drank" (Exodus 17:5-6). In Leviticus, or in Numbers (see Numbers 20:8-11), we find that Moses also struck the rock, and water poured forth for the people. The apostle clarified this: "They drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4). The Lord did not abandon them in their grumbling and hypocrisy, but followed them with provision.
THEOSIS