²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(A) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(B) and body be kept blameless^(C) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(D) 24} The one who calls^(E) you is faithful,^(F) and he will do it.^(G)

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples^(A) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;^{(B) 20} you were bought at a price.^(C) Therefore honor God with your bodies.^(D)

The Need for Self-Discipline

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?^(A) Run^(B) in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^(C) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{(D) 26} Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(E) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{(F) 27} No, I strike a blow to my body^(G) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^(H)

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(A) but I press on to take hold^(B) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^{(C) 13} Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(D) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(E) toward the goal to win the prize^(F) for which God has called^(G) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

12 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^(A) with perseverance^(B) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(C) the pioneer^(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(E) scorning its shame,^(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^(G)

⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(A) rather, train yourself to be godly.^{(B) 8} For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,^(C) holding promise for both the present life^(D) and the life to come.^(E)