A new book in the religion/spirituality market informs listeners about the most enormous and longest competition the world has ever seen: the Christian Olympics, otherwise known as the "Christian race" that the Apostle Paul wrote about nearly 2,000 years ago.

In The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns, author S. E. Gregg unveils the Bible's comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic Games.

Paul wrote to a Hellenistic culture - one steeped in Greek philosophy, culture, and athletics - and so for the Christians of his day, marathon footraces run by Greek Olympians provided the perfect metaphor for the endurance, longevity, and persistence needed to successfully finish the race of faith. Those who do, Gregg reminds us, will receive crowns of gold from the Lord himself.

A new understanding of and exhilaration for the Christian life, pursued with the vigor of a spiritual athlete, will help listeners to endure their problems and suffering. As a result, Gregg hopes to stoke the fires of passionate living for God and encourage listeners to look forward to what is ahead.

Weaving in applications for both individuals and families, Gregg developed biblical strategies to help us run our races well, just as athletes develop game plans to help them win their competitions. Gregg examines the rich comparative examples Paul gave us in the Epistles: The lighting of the flame at the Olympics is reminiscent of the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which was the divine opening ceremony. When the book of Hebrews says to "run the race with patience", it is referring to actual marathon footraces popular in the Greco-Roman culture. Just as successful ancient Olympians received crowns made of laurel leaves, believers who run the race of faith to the finish line will receive crowns of gold at the closing and rewards ceremonies in the sky!