1 Corinthians 9:24-27

9:24 Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. 9:25 Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

9:26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. 9:27 Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.

Galatians 5:7

5:7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying ¹  the truth?

Philippians 2:16

2:16 by holding on to ²  the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

Philippians 3:10-14

3:10 My aim is to know him, ³  to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, ⁴  and to be like him in his death, 3:11 and so, somehow, ⁵  to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Keep Going Forward

3:12 Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. ⁶  3:13 Brothers and sisters, ⁷  I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: ⁸  Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 3:14 with this goal in mind, ⁹  I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God ¹⁰  in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:2

3:2 Beware of the dogs, ¹¹  beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! ¹² 

Philippians 4:7

4:7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds ¹³  in Christ Jesus.

[5:7]  ¹ tn Or “following.” BDAG 792 s.v. πείθω 3.b states, “obey, follow w. dat. of the pers. or thing…Gal 3:1 v.l.; 5:7.”

[2:16]  ² tn Or “holding out, holding forth.”

[3:10]  ³ tn The articular infinitive τοῦ γνῶναι (tou gnwnai, “to know”) here expresses purpose. The words “My aim is” have been supplied in the translation to emphasize this nuance and to begin a new sentence (shorter sentences are more appropriate for English style).

[3:10]  ⁴ tn Grk “to know him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings.”

[3:11]  ⁵ tn On εἰ πῶς (ei pws) as “so, somehow” see BDAG 279, s.v. εἰ 6.n.

[3:12]  ⁶ tn Grk “that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” The passive has been translated as active in keeping with contemporary English style.

[3:13]  ⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

[3:13]  ⁸ tn Grk “But this one thing (I do).”

[3:14]  ⁹ tn Grk “according to the goal.”

[3:14]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “prize, namely, the heavenly calling of God.”

[3:2]  ¹¹ sn Dogs is a figurative reference to false teachers whom Paul regards as just as filthy as dogs.

[3:2]  ¹² tn Grk “beware of the mutilation.”

[4:7]  ¹³ tn Grk “will guard the hearts of you and the minds of you.” To improve the English style, the second occurrence of ὑμῶν (Jumwn, “of you”) has not been translated, since it is somewhat redundant in English.