I really like reading the early church fathers. Recently I've been reading Clement...Bishop of Rome and contemporary to John the apostle. He was overseer at Rome from 88 to 99. So we have an opportunity to hear from someone who was near the action of God in the early church.
Here is a portion I thought to share today...2 Clement 7...about running the race. I like the translation below...that of Holmes.
Chap. VII--Competing in the Games
So then, my brothers and sisters, let us compete in the games, realizing that the competition is at hand.While many come to enter the earthly competitions, not all are crowned, but only those who have trained hard and competed well. 2 Let us compete, therefore, so that we all may be crowned. 3 Let us run in a straight course, the heavenly competition, and let many of us come to enter it and compete, so that we may also be crowned. And if we cannot all be crowned, let us at least come close to it. 4 We must realize that if one who competes in the earthly contest is caught cheating, he is flogged, disqualified, and thrown out of the stadium. 5 What do you think? What will be done to the one who cheats in the heavenly competition? 6 For concerning those who have not kept the seal, He says "their worm will not die and their fire is not quenched, and they will be a spectacle for all flesh."
Here is another translation...(Lightfoot)
CHAP. VII.--WE MUST STRIVE IN ORDER TO BE CROWNED.
Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in our case] close at hand, and that many undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward; yet all are not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in great numbers set out for it, and strive that we may be crowned. And should we not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to it. We must remember that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if he be found acting unfairly, is taken away and scourged, and cast forth from the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not preserve the seal [unbroken], [the Scripture] saith, "Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh."
Here is a portion I thought to share today...2 Clement 7...about running the race. I like the translation below...that of Holmes.
Chap. VII--Competing in the Games
So then, my brothers and sisters, let us compete in the games, realizing that the competition is at hand.While many come to enter the earthly competitions, not all are crowned, but only those who have trained hard and competed well. 2 Let us compete, therefore, so that we all may be crowned. 3 Let us run in a straight course, the heavenly competition, and let many of us come to enter it and compete, so that we may also be crowned. And if we cannot all be crowned, let us at least come close to it. 4 We must realize that if one who competes in the earthly contest is caught cheating, he is flogged, disqualified, and thrown out of the stadium. 5 What do you think? What will be done to the one who cheats in the heavenly competition? 6 For concerning those who have not kept the seal, He says "their worm will not die and their fire is not quenched, and they will be a spectacle for all flesh."
Here is another translation...(Lightfoot)
CHAP. VII.--WE MUST STRIVE IN ORDER TO BE CROWNED.
Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in our case] close at hand, and that many undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward; yet all are not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in great numbers set out for it, and strive that we may be crowned. And should we not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to it. We must remember that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if he be found acting unfairly, is taken away and scourged, and cast forth from the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not preserve the seal [unbroken], [the Scripture] saith, "Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh."