Scholars sometimes contrast the doctrine mode of Paul with the story mode of the gospels and the metaphor mode of Jesus. Yet a large part of the enduring power and persuasiveness of Paul's letters lies in his ability to transform familiar images into moving metaphors. In today's epistle text Paul concludes his personal defense and pointed challenge to his Corinthian opponents by suddenly shifting into the language of sport. In fact, in these four brief verses Paul piles on enough sporting references and examples to earn him a spot on ESPN.

The use of athletic imagery was an established tradition in Hellenistic literature. From Homer in the fourth century BCE to Paul's contemporaries Plutarch and Seneca, the agon (athletic) motif was coupled with arguments depicting a struggle for virtue a…