are saved, not just one winner. Paul’s point is that, like the runner, the Christian must give of his best. 25. Competes in the games renders agōnizomai, which gives us words like ‘agony’ and ‘agonize’. It does not mean a half-hearted effort. Every competitor had to undergo strict training for ten months, during which he was ‘temperate in all things’ (AV). After all this, his reward if he won was a crown that will not last (in the Isthmian Games it was a pine wreath at first, later celery was used,