συναγωνίζομαι

I struggle in company with

Definition

Sunaɡōnizomai means to struggle or contend together with someone, implying active partnership in a difficult endeavor. It carries the sense of joining forces in a conflict or effort, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional. In its sole New Testament occurrence, Romans 15:30, it is used metaphorically for believers joining in prayerful struggle. The word intensifies the idea of individual struggle (agōnizomai) by adding the cooperative element of 'with' (sun).

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 15:30. Here, the Apostle Paul urgently appeals to the Roman believers, asking them to 'strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.' The context is Paul's impending journey to Jerusalem, facing unknown dangers, and his desire to minister in Rome. The usage is entirely within a spiritual context of communal, intercessory prayer as a form of shared spiritual conflict.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν (sun, meaning 'with' or 'together') compounded with the verb ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai, G75), meaning 'I struggle, contend, or fight.' Agōnizomai itself comes from ἀγών (agōn), meaning 'contest' or 'struggle,' often used for athletic competitions. Thus, the compound vividly pictures a team effort in a demanding contest.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the New Testament theology of Christian community and co-laboring. It transforms prayer from a private activity into a shared spiritual battle, emphasizing the interdependence of the body of Christ. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by revealing that Paul did not merely request prayer but called for believers to actively enter into his spiritual struggle as partners, reinforcing concepts of unity and bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2).

In the Greco-Roman world, the root agōn was associated with the intense, public struggles of athletic games and military conflicts. By using this term, Paul taps into a familiar cultural concept of a shared, arduous contest. This would resonate with readers, elevating their understanding of collaborative prayer from a passive wish to an active, concerted effort akin to teammates in a grueling race or soldiers in a battle.

ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai, G75) — to struggle or contend, but without the explicit cooperative element. συνεργέω (synergeō, G4903) — to work together with, focuses more on general labor than on struggle. παρακαλέω (parakaleō, G3870) — to exhort or comfort, can involve urging but lacks the 'struggle' component. προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai, G4336) — to pray, the general action for which sunagōnizomai specifies the manner.

Word Details

Scripture References