Striving for a Crown

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ^(A)Run in such a way that you may ^[a]obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize ^[b]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for ^(B)an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: ^(C)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ^27 (D)But I discipline my body and ^(E)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become ^(F)disqualified.

² And I went up ^[a]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but ^(A)privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means ^(B)I might run, or had run, in vain.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷ You ^(A)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that ^(A)I may rejoice in the day of Christ that ^(B)I have not run in vain or labored in ^(C)vain.

^14 (A)I press toward the goal for the prize of ^(B)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

⁵ And also ^(A)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

^7 (A)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(B)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(C)Judge, will give to me ^(D)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, ^(A)let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and ^(B)let us run ^(C)with endurance the race that is set before us,