What games were held in Corinth in Paul's day and how important were they?
In Paul’s day, Corinth hosted the Isthmian Games, the second greatest set of games in the Roman world after the Athenian Games, the Olympics. Paul referred to such athletic contests often, using runners competing for a prize to illustrate believers running a spiritual race for reward, not salvation.
Les explains that Paul must have been a fan of the Olympics because he refers to them so often in his writings. Les teaches that while the Olympic Games were held elsewhere, in Corinth they were the Isthmian Games, the second greatest set of games in the Roman world after the Athenian Games, the Olympics. Paul uses the Olympic races as an illustration: all run, but one receives the prize, and they run to win, to be number one, not just for fun. He applies this to the Corinthians as believers and brethren, so their spiritual race is not for salvation but for reward. Les also notes that those striving for mastery trained with temperance, maintaining balance in all things rather than overeating or starving, and that temperance means balance in any area of life.
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.