The paper argues that the verbs ἀγαπάω and φιλέω occurring in John 21, 15–17 do not express different kinds of love (higher and lower), as some commentators claimed. At the same time, it may reasonably be doubted whether John used synonyms here only for stylistic reasons. Context analysis of the dialogue between Jesus and Peter points to allusions to their conversation in John 13, 31–38 and Jesus’ definition of love cited in John 15, 12–14. The identification of the references leads to the conclusion that the alternation of the synonymous verbs reflects the pattern ἀγάπη-φίλοι observed in the latter passage.

This study focuses on potential athletic language in Phil 3:12-16. The main focus is the question what the assumption of the presence of athletic language in this text contributes to understanding it and especially its theological meaning better. The study consists of three parts. In part 1, the author analyses the preceding and the subsequent context of Phil 3:12-16 joining the defenders of a concentric structure: 3:1-11 (A), 3:12-16 (B), 3:17-4:1 (A’). The two framing sections (A and A’) focus on the opposition between Paul and his opponents, but the main point is Paul’s command to the Philippian addressees to “stand firm in the Lord”. Part 2 contains a brief exegetical analysis of 3:12-16. Our analysis focuses on the most important words (gaining/attaining; movement; thinking) and the goal of heavenly perfection with which they are connected. In the third part we analyse the potential athletic images in 3:12-16 which finds its “anchor point” in the noun τὸ βραβεῖον in 3:14. Based on the acceptance of this noun as an agonistic terminus technicus, other verbs and nouns which are not in and of themselves referring to athletics are interpreted as having an athletic meaning in our context. The study concludes with the caution that Paul counterbalances the “effort-reward scheme” of athletic language with the “giving-receiving scheme” of his call language. In this way, Paul introduces an emphasis on the future-orientedness of the message which is characteristic of his preaching and living.