New Testament athletic metaphors
File:Greek vase with runners at the panathenaic games 530 bC.jpg, illustrated on a Greek vase. Like the Isthmian Games of Corinth, the Panathenaic Games continued into early Christian times.Susan Heuck Allen, [https://books.google.com/books?id=rV8vyYn-qMgC&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39 Finding the walls of Troy: Frank Calvert and Heinrich Schliemann at Hisarlík], University of California Press, 1999, {{ISBN|0-520-20868-4}}, p. 39.]]
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The New Testament uses a number of athletic metaphors in discussing Christianity, especially in the Pauline epistles and the Epistle to the Hebrews. Such metaphors also appear in the writings of contemporary philosophers, such as Epictetus and Philo,Anthony C. Thiselton, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aNkcqC9bdAMC&pg=PA713 The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A commentary on the Greek text], Eerdmans, 2000, {{ISBN|0-8028-2449-8}}, p. 713. drawing on the tradition of the Olympic Games;David Arthur DeSilva, [https://books.google.com/books?id=y9GA4JRq9AEC&pg=PA362 Perseverance in Gratitude: A socio-rhetorical commentary on the Epistle "to the Hebrews"], Eerdmans, 2000, {{ISBN|0-8028-4188-0}}, p. 362. this may have influenced New Testament use of the imagery.Roman Garrison, [https://books.google.com/books?id=HrJAe31jayUC&pg=PA104 The Graeco-Roman Context of Early Christian Literature], Continuum International Publishing Group, 1997, {{ISBN|1-85075-646-5}}, p. 104.
The metaphor of running a race "with perseverance" appears in Hebrews 12:1;[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12:1&version=NIV Hebrews 12:1, NIV (BibleGateway)]: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." related metaphors appear in Philippians 2:16,[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2:16&version=NIV Philippians 2:16, NIV (BibleGateway).] Galatians 2:2,[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2:2&version=NIV Galatians 2:2, NIV (BibleGateway).] and Galatians 5:7.[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5:7&version=NIV Galatians 5:7, NIV (BibleGateway).] In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul writes "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%204:7&version=NIV 2 Timothy 4:7, NIV (BibleGateway).]
In 1 Corinthians 9:24–26,[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209:24-26&version=NIV 1 Corinthians 9:24–26, NIV (BibleGateway).] written to the city that hosted the Isthmian Games,Leland Ryken, Jim Wilhoit, Tremper Longman, Colin Duriez, Douglas Penney, and Daniel G. Reid, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qjEYEjVVEosC&pg=RA4-PA693 Dictionary of Biblical Imagery], InterVarsity Press, 1998, {{ISBN|0-8308-1451-5}}, p. 693 (RACE). the metaphor is extended from running to other games, such as boxing,John Phillips, [https://books.google.com/books?id=c4F0l2b1QnkC&pg=200 Exploring 1 Corinthians: An expository commentary], Kregel Publications, 2002, {{ISBN|0-8254-3495-5}}, p. 200. to make the point that winning a prize requires discipline, self-control, and coordinated activity.Jerome H. Neyrey and Bruce J. Malina, [https://books.google.com/books?id=J7AtGEmOD38C&pg=PA144 Paul, in Other Words: A Culture Reading of His Letters], Westminster John Knox Press, 1990, {{ISBN|0-664-22159-9}}, p. 144. In 2 Timothy 2:5,[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202:5&version=NIV 2 Timothy 2:5, NIV (BibleGateway).] the same point is made.John Norman Davidson Kelly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=t84kfQfTB50C&pg=PA176 A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles: I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus], Part 1, Continuum International Publishing Group, 1963, {{ISBN|0-7136-1366-1}}, p. 176. These athletic metaphors are also echoed in later Christian writing.Jason König, [https://books.google.com/books?id=WypKKCGev2wC&pg=PA133 Athletics and Literature in the Roman Empire], Cambridge University Press, 2005, {{ISBN|0-521-83845-2}}, p. 133.
As with New Testament military metaphors, these metaphors appear in many hymns, such as Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might,[http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/f/i/fightthe.htm The Cyber Hymnal: Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might]: "Run the straight race through God's good grace." which was sung in the film Chariots of Fire; and "Angel Band",[http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/m/y/mylatest.htm The Cyber Hymnal: My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast]: "My race is nearly run; / My strongest trials now are past, / My triumph is begun." which was sung in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
New Testament athletic metaphors were embraced by advocates of muscular Christianity, both in the Victorian era and in later times.Richard G. Kyle, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2fRFi2ZPBVkC&pg=PA203 Evangelicalism: An Americanized Christianity], Transaction Publishers, 2006, {{ISBN|0-7658-0324-0}}, p. 203.Dane S. Claussen (ed), [https://books.google.com/books?id=sYc2dfSbwXMC&pg=PA194 The Promise Keepers: Essays on masculinity and Christianity], McFarland, 2000, {{ISBN|0-7864-0700-X}}, p. 194.