It was this singlehearted purpose to win the race for eternal life that Paul longed to see revealed in the lives of the Corinthian believers. He knew that in order to reach Christ's ideal for them, they had before them a life struggle from which there would be no release. He entreated them to strive lawfully, day by day seeking for piety and moral excellence. He pleaded with them to lay aside every weight and to press forward to the goal of perfection in Christ.

Det var dette oprigtige ønske om at vinde løbet om det evige liv, Paulus higede efter at se åbenbaret i de korintiske troendes liv. Han vidste, at hvis de skulle nå til Kristi formål med dem, ville det koste dem et livs kamp, hvorfra der ikke var nogen befrielse. Han tryglede dem om at kæmpe rettelig og dag efter dag søge fromhed og moralsk fuldkommenhed. Han bønfaldt dem om at kaste alle byrder fra sig og haste fremad mod målet, som var fuldkommenhed i Kristus.