Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 22
Thursday


THE GOD
OF VICTORY

READ:
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
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Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil
with good.
__Romans 12:21
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In Greek mythology, Nike was the goddess of victory. Nike fought on the side of the Olympian gods, gaining a victory over the mighty Titans. As a result, she became a symbol of winning. But Nike's alleged powers were not just limited to warfare. She also became a favorite goddess of athletes who wanted to win in competitive sports. The Romans adopted her into their worship and gave her the Latin name Victoria.

In the Greco-Roman world where Paul taught, victory was highly valued. So when he expressed Christian truth, he used words his audience could understand. In his letters, he described Christ as the One who leads us in a military procession of triumph (2 Cor. 2:14-17) and compared the Christian life to someone training for the ancient Olympic games (1 Cor.9:24-27).

Paul also used the word for victory in reference to our struggles with those who intentionally hurt us. "Overcome [be a victor over] evil with good" (Rom. 12:21). This may mean returning kindness for spite or respectfully setting limits on evil behavior. In either case, an attitude of love cannot be generated in our own strength. But in Christ, we have divine power that ancient pagans could only hope for. Jesus Christ is the genuine God of victory. __Dennis Fisher
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``````````````````Through trials we learn to overcome,````````````
``````````````````Through Christ our victories are won;````````````
```````````````````Come lay your burdens at His feet``````````````
```````````````And find this inner peace so sweet. __Halsey````````
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God will give us the victory
when we join Him in the fight.

************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17*********

14 Now thanks be to God
who always leads us in
triumph in Christ, and
through us diffuses the
fragrance of his knowledge
in every place. 15 For we are
to God the fragrance of
Christ among those who are
being saved and among
those who are perishing.

16 To the one we are the
aroma of death leading to
death, and to the other the
aroma of life leading to life.
And who is sufficient for
these things? 17 For we are
not, as so many, peddling
the Word of God; but as of
sincerity, but as from God,
we speak in the sight of
God in Christ.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In this passage, Paul used the military imagery of a Roman victory
parade, where the conquering general, riding a golden chariot,
would lead his officers and men in a public parade and display
the spoils of victory and the captive enemy soldiers. The priests
in the procession would burn incense in tribute to their gods for
the victory. The prisoners of war would eventually end up in the
arena, in a fight to the death against wild beasts or each other. The
incense was the aroma of life for the victors, but also a reminder of
impending death for the captives. __Sim Kay Tee