Why Did Paul Compare His
Life to Running a Race?
By Jonathan Mitchell
The Good News which Paul taught was the obedience of Christ which brought to humanity the Grace of God, and the gift of eschatological deliverance (Rom. 5:15-19). He stressed this point elsewhere, and we read in Eph. 2:
8. For you see, by (or: to; in; for; with) the Grace and joyous Favor you are (you continuously exist being) folks having been delivered (rescued; kept safe; saved; made whole; restored to your original state and condition) so as to now be enjoying salvation through this Faithfulness (or: Loyalty; Fidelity; trust; faith; confidence), and even this not forth from out of the midst of you folks, [it is] the Gift of, and from, God (or: the Gift which is God; or: the gift pertains to God), [cf Rom. 4:16; Phil. 1:29; Jn. 4:10; 6:44]
9. not out of works (or: not forth from the midst of actions or deeds done; = not self-produced; = not from the Law or the old covenant), to the end that no one could boast, [Rom. 3:20; 4:4-6]
10. for the fact is, we are (continually exist being) the effect of what He did (or: His creation; the thing He has constructed; the result of His work; His achievement; His opus; the effect of His Deed): people being founded from a state of disorder and wildness (being framed, built, settled and created; being changed from chaos to order), within, and in union with, Christ Jesus, based upon (or: founded and built on) Good Works (virtuous actions; excellent deeds) which God made ready in advance (prepared beforehand), to the end that we could, should and would walk about (= live our lives; order our behavior) centered within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Them. [cf vs. 15, 4:24, below; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:14; Col. 3:10]
Nonetheless, we read the following admonition to believers (members of the called-out community in Corinth) which is found in 1 Cor. 9:23-27,
23. Now I habitually do all things (or: everything) because of the message of abundant wellness (the good news; the message of prosperous and ideal ease, and Goodness), to the end that I would (could; can) for myself come to be its (or: His) joint participant (co-partner; sharer-in-common, along with others; equal fellow in communion and common Being).
Paul's whole life was dedicated to "the message" with the aim of being a "joint-participant" of this good news, as well as of Him. The genitive pronoun serves both the masculine and the neuter, so it can be rendered either "Him," or "it." Paul never assumes himself to "have arrived," so his focus is to "come to be" an "equal fellow in communion and common Being," or a "co-partner with the message," or, a "sharer-in-common with Christ," or a "joint-participant in the message of abundant wellness (etc.)." The word "joint-participant (etc.)" is the Greek sun- (co-; joint-; share- fellow-) prefixed to koinonos (common being; common existence). What a statement of unification and solidarity! The term "common Being" is the corporate Christ, the Second Humanity (15:47b, below). He will next explain HOW he "habitually does all things," by using a metaphor from the athletic contests held in the stadiums...
24. Have you folks not seen, so as to know, that those progressively running, on the race-course within a stadium, are indeed all progressively running (or: constantly and repeatedly racing), yet one normally (= each time) grasps (takes; receives) the contest prize (victor's award)? Be habitually running (progressively racing) so that you folks can (may; would) seize and take [it] down in your hands!
This metaphor builds upon vs. 23. He is not talking about a person's "ultimate salvation," or about bringing glory or fame to one's self. He is talking about how they should be living their lives, here and now: with total commitment to full participation within the "common Being." He is talking about living as though one were running a race - with all their heart, soul, mind and strength - and continuing this way until they reach the "finish line," which is the end of their physical life here. Verses 24-27 all have the same message, and we saw this encapsulated in the quote of Phil. 3:14, under vs. 18, above. We find a similar admonition in Heb. 12:1b,
"after at once putting off from ourselves all bulk and encumbrance (every weight; all that is prominent; or: getting rid of every arrow point within us) and the easily-environing (skillfully-surrounding; well-placed encircling) failure (sin; error; mistake; shooting off-target; missing of the point), we can and should through persistent remaining-under (or: relentless patient endurance and giving of support) keep on running the racecourse continuously lying before us (or: lying in the forefront within us; or: lying ahead, among us)."
This is practically interpreted in living out the reply by Jesus in regard to the Law - which is a synopsis of the Spirit of the Law and the Prophets, but only enabled to fully accomplish under the new covenant by the power of the indwelling Spirit:
"You will continue loving (fully giving yourself to; urging toward reunion with) [the] Lord [= Yahweh], your God, in union with your whole heart - and within the midst of the core of your being, and in union with your whole soul - and within the midst of your entire soul-life, and in union with your whole intellectual capacity - and within the midst of your whole thinking process and comprehension" (Mat. 22:37; Deut. 6:5).
Paul expounds this theme in 1 Cor. chapter 13. But here, his analogy continues...
25. Now every person habitually engaging in a contest (participating in the violent struggle of the public athletic games) constantly exercises inner strength and self-control in all things, and among all folks: those, of course, therefore [do it] so that they may (can; would) grasp (take; receive) a corruptible wreath that will soon wither, yet we an incorruptible (un-withering) one.
The verb, "constantly exercises inner strength and self-control" speaks of the contestant's habit of personal training. But in Gal. 5:23, we find the cognate of this verb in the noun, "inner strength (self-control)," which describes one aspect of "the fruit of the Spirit." So our training involves "abiding in the Vine" (Jn. 15:1ff), in order to produce the Spirit's fruit. But abiding, like training, involves focus and connected union with the source of Life.
So, to what is he referring, in using the metaphor of "an incorruptible wreath"? What is the spiritual "prize" in the analogy of vs. 24? This metaphor served different purposes to different writers. For Paul, it was the people that he served, as he stated in Phil. 4:1, "my brothers (= fellow believers; Family) - loved ones and longed-for folks (people missed with a craving), my joy and winner's (or: festal) wreath..."
Jacob used this "goal" metaphor in this way:
"Happy and blessed is the adult male (or: person; [A and other MSS: human]) who is continuously remaining under a proving (a putting to the proof; or: a trial; an ordeal), because upon being birthed approved (or: growing and becoming proved and accepted) he or she will continue laying hold of the circle of the life (or: life's crown; life's encirclement; the encirclement from this living existence; or: the wreath which is the Life) which He [some MSS: the Lord (= Yahweh or Christ)] Himself promised to those continuously loving, and urging toward union with, Him" (Jas. 1:12).Note the parenthetical expansion of "the circle of the life... the wreath which is the Life," and that "he or she will CONTINUE laying hold" of it. And what is the basis for remaining in this Christ Life? It is "continuously loving, and urging toward union with, Him." Jesus informed us that we love Him when we are loving "the least of His brothers" (Mat. 25:40).
And then Peter combined the metaphor with his admonition in 1 Pet. 5:3b-4,
"progressively becoming beaten models (types made by the strike of a hammer; examples) for the little flock, and so, with the Chief Shepherd (or: the Original and Ruling Shepherd) [thus] being made visible (being shown in clear light), you folks will continue bringing to yourselves - with care and kindly keeping - the un-withering and unfading wreath of the glory (or: the assumed appearance)."What Paul referred to as being "incorruptible," Peter described as "un-withering and unfading." These descriptions are figures for that which continues on without death: God Himself. Paul uses the term "incorruption" in 15:42, below: "the resurrection of the dead people... is being habitually (or: presently; repeatedly; one after another) awakened and raised up within incorruption."
We suggest that what Paul refers to, here in vs. 25, and that of which Peter spoke about, above, is the same thing that was spoken to John in Rev. 2:10b,
"Progressively come to be a faithful and reliable person (or: You must be being birthed a trusting and loyal one) until death, and I will continue giving Life's wreath to you (or: for you the wreath of The Life; or: the victor's symbol, which is life in you)."
We find this same term employed in 2 Tim. 4:8,
These metaphors may be echoes from the Wisdom of Solomon:
"Now just people (folks living in the pointed-out Way) will continue living on into the Age [of the Messiah], and thus their reward [is] within the midst of, centered in, and in union with, [the] LORD, and their care [is] at the side of, and in the presence of, [the] Most High. Because of this they will one-after-another receive the attractive crown of state (or: royal dwelling of this dignity), even the beautiful diadem, from out of [the] Hand of [the] LORD, because with the Right Hand He will constantly shelter, cover, hide and protect them, and with the Arm He will continually shield them (defend and cover them with a shield)" (LXX; JM).
Putting on such a wreath is the same thing as admonished in Rom. 13:14,
"You folks must clothe yourselves with (or: enter within and put on) the Lord, Jesus Christ, and stop (or: do not continue) making forethought (constructing provision; planning ahead; performing provident care) into excessive desires of the flesh (= into rushing upon emotions which pertain to the inner self or the estranged humanity; = into the setting of feelings and longings upon something of the human nature that is oriented to the System)."
Conzelmann quotes Hans von Soden, "Sakrament und Ethik," 7, stating that, "It is the case of 'the asceticism of the competitor who is out to win, the behavior of the man who does not roam the vast field of what is permitted, but presses forward on the narrow path of what is beneficial'" (ibid p 162 n 30).
Paul wrote in Gal. 2:2b of the possibility of his "progressively rushing forward and running, or had run, into emptiness (or: for an empty thing; into something without content; = to no purpose; or: = in vain)." Then in 5:7a he said to the Galatians, "You folks have been running beautifully (finely; ideally; with good form)! Who (or: What) cut in on you folks, to hinder or thwart you...?" But keeping all this in balance is Rom. 9:16,
"Consequently, then, [it is] not of or from the one constantly exercising [his] will (or: [it does] not pertain or belong to habitually intending or designing), nor of the one constantly rushing forward (or: nor does it pertain or belong to the one continuously running or habitually racing), but rather of, from, pertaining to and belonging to God, the One constantly being merciful."
26. So now, I myself am constantly running (racing) in this manner - not as without clear visibility of the goal (not in an uncertain or aimless manner which lacks clear purpose); thus I am habitually boxing - not as repeatedly flaying (thrashing; = punching) air.
We have two metaphors from the games: running and boxing. Paul offers his own life as an example for the Corinthian group. It was a life of constant focus on the goal; a life of habitual energy spent "to overcome even as He overcame" (Rev. 3:21) - and He overcame through a cruciform Life that was joined to the Vine. He did not thrash about as a boxer that has no skill or training. He embodied what he has said in vs. 25, above.
27. To the contrary, I am repeatedly "striking my face below my eyes and beating my body black and blue" (= treating my body severely by discipline and hardship) and continually leading [it] as a slave (or: causing it to lead the life of a slave), lest somehow, while proclaiming (heralding; preaching; [note: at the games it means to announce the rules of the game and call out the competitors]) to (or: for; among) others, I myself should (can; may; would) come to be one that does not stand the test (or: unproved; or: without the approval which comes from testing; or: disapproved and disqualified).
Paul presents his own body as his opponent in the game of boxing. He causes his body to "lead the life of a slave." He is fully aware of how this personal opponent can overcome him and thus disqualify him from his function of being Christ's representative. The risen Christ warned the entire called-out community in Ephesus that they would be disqualified as functioning as His temple there - symbolized by His threat to remove their lampstand (Rev. 2:5) - unless they "change their thinking" and do "the first works," which was in their "first love" (vs. 4).
Paul spoke similarly, in Phil. 3:
14. I am continuously pressing forward and bearing down on [the; or: an] object in view (progressively pursuing along the line of a mark on which the eye is fixed, and in the sphere of a goal): with a view to, and into the midst of, the awarded contest prize of God's (or: the award from, and which is, God's) invitation to an above place (or: the prize pertaining to, and which is, the upward calling from, and which is, the God) centered within the midst of, and in union with, Christ Jesus.[cf 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; Heb. 3:1]
Paul was not running a race or, pressing forward, or metaphorically punching himself, in order "to be saved," or, "to go to heaven." He was using these metaphors to express the intensity with which he was "walking the Path" in following Christ and living as a member of the body of Christ. The "object in view" was a higher realm of awareness and existence in Christ, which is characterized as "the upward calling from, and which is, God." He put it this way, in Gal. 5:
In his biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, 2020), Eric Metaxas says of Bonhoeffer, "He longed to see a church that had an intimate connection with Christ and was dedicated to hearing God's voice and obeying God's commands, come what may..." (p 249). This, we suggest, is what Paul was admonishing all his listeners, and why he lived his life as he did. This is because, in fact,
"Now Grace and Favor [are] in, with, and by, God - in, by and with the One at all times constantly celebrating us with a victory procession (or: progressively exhibiting us in a triumphal procession; [cf 1 Cor. 15:23]) within, and in union with, the Christ (or: in the sphere of, and centered in, this Anointing), and progressively setting in clear Light (or: habitually manifesting) the fragrance (aroma; odor; perfume) of His intimate knowledge (or: of the experience of intimacy and insight which has its source in knowing Him; or: from the knowledge - gnosis - from, and which is, Him), through means of us, in every place" (2 Cor. 2:14).
Jonathan
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