New Testament athletic metaphors
The New Testament uses several athletic metaphors in discussing Christianity, especially in the Pauline epistles and the Epistle to the Hebrews. Such metaphors also appear in the writings of contemporary philosophers, such as Epictetus and Philo, drawing on the tradition of the Olympic Games; this may have influenced New Testament use of the imagery.
Source: Wikipedia — New Testament athletic metaphors (CC BY-SA 4.0)