Last week we discussed the way the word walk or walking is used in the NT. This week we are picking up the pace. Let’s notice what the NT says about running and see what we can learn.
The word “run” is used ten times (in the ESV) and the word “running” is found six times. The word “runners” is found once.
The word “run” or “running” is used a few times in Acts 27 describing the sailing of the ship that Paul was aboard on his way to plead his case before Caesar. We won’t concern ourselves with this form of running.
There are three additional ways that this word is employed in the NT. Let’s notice them and learn.
First, the word running is used literally of the crowd running to assemble in order to hear Jesus in Mark 9:25. The word episuntrecho is used here. Strong’s defines this word as to “hasten together upon one place.” This, of course, was not an unusual occurrence when Jesus was speaking. Mark 12:37 says, “And the great throng heard him gladly.” We should “run,” or make every effort necessary to hear the word of the Lord! The Father said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mk. 9:7).
Secondly, the word “running” is used in Luke 6:38. However, this is from a different Greek term: huperekchuno. Strong’s defines this word as “to poor out over… to overflow.” This word is actually a compound word, hupo meaning “over” and ekchuno, “to poor forth… gush, run greedily.” The imagery then in Luke 6:38 is that the Christian should not be tempted to have a judgmental spirit in part because God is able to poor his blessings over us if we will be generous with others. What imagery and what a motivation!
In third place, the second word from the compound word that we just noticed is used several times in the NT (trecho). John uses it concerning the “other disciple” (likely John) outrunning Peter to Jesus’ empty tomb (see Jn. 20:4). The word “running” shows us the magnitude of intrigue they had upon the announcement of the empty tomb.
Paul, however, uses this same word in a consistent and figurative way. He uses forms of the word “run” as representing the living of the Christian life. Observe the following:
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In order to make that happen for himself, he says in verse 26: “So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air” (1 Cor. 9:26). Paul was not unintentional about his Christian life because he could not bear the thought of missing out on the grace of Christ that is to be revealed (see 1 Pt. 1:13). The aimless Christian can easily find himself veering off the narrow path (see Mt. 7:13-14). In order to win the race, he will take great care to stay “in his lane” (or, God’s lane!).
In Galatians 2:2 Paul employs this word concerning the loss he would experience if the Galatian Christians did not remain true to God’s Word. He wanted to make sure that he “was not running or had run in vain.” If they became unfaithful to the Lord, he would have lost the fruits of his Christian labor (or service to God). This was a serious matter with Paul and should be to us as well.
Paul said to the Galatian brethren: “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Gal. 5:7). Just as in a footrace, the Christian can choose to stop running. But there never will be a single good reason for not continuing the Christian race.
There are many similarities between the way the word “walk” is used and the word “run” in the NT. Surely, however, we can see a sense of urgency and intensity conveyed through the word “run” that is not noted as strongly in the word “walk.”
Let us not merely walk the Christian walk, but let us run the Christian race. Do you need to “step it up?” Don’t leave anything on the field of life. Let us be able to say, as Paul did at the end of his life:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
Daren Schroeder
