{"id":45833,"date":"2025-08-08T09:33:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=45833"},"modified":"2025-08-08T09:33:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:33:54","slug":"manny-pacquiao-leads-bible-studies-in-fight-week-the-fight-is-second-god-comes-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/08\/manny-pacquiao-leads-bible-studies-in-fight-week-the-fight-is-second-god-comes-first.html","title":{"rendered":"Manny Pacquiao Leads Bible Studies in Fight Week: ‘The Fight is Second\u2014God Comes First’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FARYSA HAMZAH-Shutterstock.com | Inset: @sauceychinita \/ Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a city known more for bright lights and big bets than Bible studies, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao turned Las Vegas into a place of worship during his most recent fight week.<\/p>\n

Instead of focusing solely on training or enjoying the glitz of Sin City, Pacquiao held nightly Bible studies open to anyone<\/a> who wanted to join. Whether friends, fellow athletes, or strangers wandered in, they were met with the champion’s humble heart and love for God.<\/p>\n

“I’m here in the Word of God because this is life, this is eternity,” Pacquiao told<\/a> the group during one of the gatherings. “All that we have in this world \u2014 material things, positions \u2014 it’s nothing, just temporary. But the Word of God is alive and forever.”<\/p>\n

Pacquiao, who has long been outspoken about his Christian faith, said his spiritual preparation was more important than anything he did in the gym.<\/p>\n

“The fight is second,” he emphasized. “The most important thing is, can we invite all our friends to attend the Bible study? We love God. We love God. Because God is good all the time in our lives.”<\/p>\n

This isn’t a new chapter for Pacquiao\u2014it’s a continuation of a spiritual journey that’s shaped his life for years. The Filipino boxer and politician gave his life to Christ over a decade ago and hasn’t looked back.<\/p>\n

“I have a lot of dreams and visions,” Pacquiao shared<\/a> in a 2014 interview with The Guardian<\/em>. “I even heard the voice of God. When I heard the voice of God, I was trembling and melting. I feel I have died. It was an amazing, amazing experience.”<\/p>\n

He added, “I’m happy because I found the right way \u2014 salvation \u2014 born again. We are required to be born again, all of us. Christ said unless we are born again, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. So it’s very important to me.”<\/p>\n

Even Pacquiao’s longtime trainer, Freddie Roach, has witnessed the boxer’s deepening devotion. “It’s more vital to him now than ever before,” Roach said. “He was born a Catholic; now he’s a born-again Christian. But he discusses the Bible when we’re flying somewhere, asking what does this really mean, what does that really mean.”<\/p>\n

In a sport filled with fame, adrenaline, and ego, Pacquiao’s faith stands out. While other fighters may unwind with parties or more sparring, Pacquiao seeks something eternal \u2014 a closer walk with God.<\/p>\n

Whether he’s inside the ring or reading Scripture, Manny Pacquiao continues to fight the good fight \u2014 and he’s doing it with a Bible in hand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a city known more for bright lights and big bets than Bible studies, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao turned Las Vegas into a place of worship during his most recent fight week. Instead of focusing solely on training or enjoying the glitz of Sin City, Pacquiao held nightly Bible studies open to anyone who wanted…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":45836,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nManny Pacquiao Leads Bible Studies in Fight Week: 'The Fight is Second\u2014God Comes First'<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"During fight week in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao swapped glitz for the Gospel, leading nightly Bible studies and sharing his passion for Christ.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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