Defining the Term

[For the introductory post in this series, click here.]

On account of how entangled it is with North American culture, competition can be an ambiguous idea to understand. Thus, it will serve this exploration well if clear parameters are established at the outset. Competition is an activity in which participants strive to attain the same objective. While this is found in many places outside the realm of sport culture, the scope of this series of posts will be to examine competition within the athletic arena and, more specifically, the participants themselves. 

Athletic Metaphors in Scripture

Competition is central to a significant number of biblical texts. Students of the Bible note rivalries within marriage (Genesis 3:16), between siblings (think Cain and Abel or Jacob and Esau), and among nations and people groups (for example, Israel and Edom, the Jews and the Gentiles). John the Baptist provides an example of how to handle competition well (Mark 1:7–8).

Scripture also speaks of competition specifically in the confines of athletics. The majority of the passages in which sport is mentioned are penned by the apostle Paul and found in his letters to the churches in Corinth (9:24–27) and Philippi (3:13–14), as well as both of his epistles to young Timothy (1 Timothy 4:7–8; 6:11–12; 2 Timothy 2:5; 4:7–8). The author of Hebrews also makes mention of competition in sport (12:1–2). What follows is a exposition of these passages within the context of their respective letters, the identification of theological principles, and the suggestion of appropriate applications.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The Context

First Corinthians is a letter from Paul responding to reports he received about the church in Corinth and hits on a variety of issues regarding proper Christian conduct within the body of Christ.

In the midst of a response to a specific question about the consumption of food that had been, at one point, offered to pagan idols (8:1–11:1), Paul recognizes the need to justify his own apostolic authority and social behaviour (9:1–23). The apostle transitions from his self-defence back to the discussion regarding pagan-offered steaks by exhorting his readers to, following his example, persevere with self-discipline (9:24–27).

The Passage

This transitional admonition is no doubt built upon metaphors from the nearby Isthmian Games, a multi-sport event held less than fifteen kilometres from Corinth. Paul, having spent much time in the city, would have certainly been familiar with the spectacle. This lavished event was held every two years and attracted thousands of spectators and competitors, the greatest of which were honoured with monuments, statues, and inscriptions within Isthmia.

Regarding the Games themselves, Paul observes that all competitors run, but only one receives the honour of winning (9:24). In athletic competition, only the fastest, highest jumping, or strongest win the gold medal. It’s an exclusive reward.

Obviously, this is not the case in the Christian life as there is not merely a single prize to be won. As the apostle Peter makes clear to the Jews in Jerusalem after Pentecost, the gift of forgiveness for sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit “is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” (Acts 2:37–40). Therefore, Paul, in 1 Corinthians, cannot be encouraging believers to live a life of competitiveness mirroring that of an elite athlete, one that excludes others from success because of their own.

So, what is he talking about? Most likely, it’s not the competitiveness of the Games that Paul is referring to, but the work involved in preparation. The athletes demonstrate impressive amounts of self-control over their emotions, impulses, and desires while preparing to compete, especially the one athlete who prevails over all the rest (9:25a). The winner has clearly remained focused on their competitive event, they have wisely abstained from the distracting pleasures of life, and they have trained and disciplined their bodies for the purpose of competing to the best of their abilities and, ideally, winning the award for exceptional performance. Instead of focusing on the competitive nature of the Games, Paul’s point in his letter to Corinth is that believers are to run the race of the Christian life with a focus, determination, and self-control that is found in the athletes.

An important distinction between athletes and believers is that the former train and compete for a prize that will fade away while the latter for one that is eternal (9:25b). The implied question is, if the athletes exercise self-control for a temporary reward, how much more should believers be motivated to do the same? If an athlete, in preparation for the Games, is willing to deprive themselves of certain luxuries, how much more willing should Christians be to surrender liberties, lifestyles, and habits of self-indulgence? Athletes today, just as in the first century, often abstain from late nights out with friends and specific unhealthy foods, not because either are necessarily bad, but because they may hinder their attempt to compete well in pursuit of the prize.

So it is in the Christian life and Paul encourages the Corinthians to imitate him (9:26). Paul “competed” not with uncertainty, but with focus. He “ran the race” not like one pointlessly punching the air, but with intentionality. Because the prize is so valuable and because the race is inevitable, Paul uses his liberty as a believer to live a disciplined and intentional life (9:27), void of things that may detract from his ability to compete well. The purpose of such training is that he may not be disqualified from passing the final test of complete faithfulness to Christ.

The Principle

Christians are to live a life of focus, intentionality, and self-control, sacrificially abstaining from all that may hinder them, for the purpose of “racing” to the best of their abilities.

The Application

The prize is not what is important here but, rather, it is what the prize motivates one to do to attain it. A serious athlete must honestly examine the details of their lifestyle in search of elements that may be distracting or hampering their ability to train and compete properly.

Having spoken to many athletes about this mindset, a common response is, “I would be angry if I fell just short of my goal and was able to point back to something in my life and ask ‘What if I had taken care of that? That could have made the difference.’” As Christians, we want to avoid that same feeling. We need to examine our lives and identify those things that are hampering our ability to live a life pleasing to God in the present.