¹⁶ holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result.

^24 [a]Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours! ²⁵ Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a ^[b]crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].

⁷ I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error].