Paul the Apostle was an athlete, at least spiritually so!
From the first of his Christian life to the very last … he talked about the “course” (a race course) that he intended to pursue! For Jesus’ Sake.
And today’s Galatians Text simply further illustrates that fact.
“Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” Galatians 2:2d, the “d” meaning the fourth clause in the verse, it’s last movement in this case.
Paul was adamant about salvation being a “gift,” not a “wage earned.” In that he would not budge, not an inch!
Yet still, if he could not get the men of “reputation” in Jerusalem, apparently a group of still surviving Disciples (with the addition of James, Jesus’ half Brother) to agree that “Paul’s Gospel” was identical to “Jesus’ Gospel,” that Gentiles did NOT have to convert to Judaism, did NOT have to be circumcised, etc. in order to be saved, be born-again … Paul felt his ministry would be greatly hindered, curtailed, even rendered “useless.”
And in our clause today, Galatians 2:2d, Paul expresses this necessity with the simple metaphor of a “race,” no doubt a “foot race.” Again … “Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”
(“Vain” means, as I said, “useless.” It is “kenos” in Greek, actually translated “empty” 4 times in the King James New Testament.)
Paul … running a race!
Paul … pursuing, executing, fulfilling his Ministry!
Now to establish a pattern of Paul using that word-picture.
Way back in Acts we find him opining: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
Then, years later, possibly within hours of his death, Paul writes: “I have fought a good fight, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7, his never dropping out of the race, having completed it!
So again, Paul the “runner!”
And when he wrote Hebrews (at least I think he did) the Apostle further declared, exhorted: “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 THAT IS SET BEFORE US, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2, again!
One more. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul’s “what keeps me going” Text (I call it) the Apostle incites: “Know ye not that they which RUN IN A RACE run all, but one receiveth the prize? SO RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I THEREFORE SO RUN ….”
Wow!
Little wonder then, that Paul’s trip to Jerusalem was so illustrated: “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles … privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I SHOULD RUN, or HAD RUN, in vain.”
Paul, no doubt now in the spiritual “Hall of Fame!” (Or at least he will be, come the Judgment Seat of Christ!)
With a gold metal in running, too!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
No wonder Paul loved to think of the Word of God that way, too. As “not being bound” (2 Timothy 2:9, free to “run!”) And that he prayed, every single time he preached, that the Word of God would “have free course” (meaning “run without impediment”), according to 2 Thessalonians 3:1.
Wow again!