How does Paul often teach spiritual truths in his writings?
Paul often teaches spiritual truths by making analogies with common, ordinary things that everyone understood. He uses comparisons like a Roman soldier in Ephesians 6, a farmer, a businessman, and Olympic runners in a race to illustrate spiritual lessons and the believer's work for reward.
Les explains that Paul often makes analogies with common, ordinary things that everybody understood. For example, Paul sometimes uses the analogy of a Roman soldier in Ephesians 6; other times he uses a farmer or a businessman. Here, in I Corinthians 9:24, Paul uses the analogy of the Olympics and people running in a race. Paul says that as believers working in this building process, we are to run that we may obtain the prize. This is not for salvation, which we have already attained by faith, but for reward—working to enhance His work and Kingdom and to bring honor and glory to His Name.