10 Commandments For Athletes From Philippians
If we’re trying to integrate faith and sport using Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where do we turn? Probably Philippians 4:13. It’s one of the best (though often misused) verses for athletes. But the rest of Philippians has much to offer anyone involved in sports. Paul writes like a coach, calling his team to a high standard, getting right to the point—understandable since he’s writing from prison. Whether you call them commands, principles, or coaching points, Paul lays out a map for faithful living. For athletes, how do we apply his words faithfully to our sport? Here are 10 commands from Paul’s Philippian playbook:
1. Act Christianly
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” - Philippians 1:27a
What does it mean to conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ? Our Christian faith cannot be compartmentalized when the whistle blows and competition starts. It means that our words, actions, and thought life should consistently reflect the message we preach—on and off the field. And when our walk inevitably falls short, we confess, repent, and keep moving forward.
2. Work together with other Christians
“Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” - Philippians 2:2
Did you know the Latin root of the word "competition" is "competere". It literally means "to strive together" or "to seek together". Paul isn’t talking about competition here. But he is imploring the Philippians to be “one in spirit and of one mind” with him. He wants them to strive together. In other words, we’re on the same team, so let’s act like it. In sport, we can compete with (not against!) other Christians and still honor each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. Take the focus off of self
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” - Philippians 2:3-4
It’s so easy to approach sports like a mirror, where we are just looking at ourselves and assessing what we did right and wrong—and charting a path forward to get better. That’s not bad at all. But if all we do is stand in front of the mirror and neglect looking out the window to see and serve others, we fall woefully short of living out the Gospel. Applying Paul’s words to sport means we show up in our athletic contexts with eyes to see and notice other people. And it means we find ways to prioritize their interests even if it costs us something to do so.
4. Stop complaining
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” - Philippians 2:14
What’s your knee-jerk response when things don’t go your way? Do you complain or mumble—maybe out loud for everyone to hear? Paul is clear: stop grumbling and arguing. The Greek includes an inward component, reminding us that our heart posture matters. We can look stoic but be fuming inside. God wants all of us transformed. Train your heart, mind, and mouth to avoid a complaining spirit. Things will happen in sports that frustrate us, and we are human, but God’s goal for us is to pursue this challenge.
5. Model your life after other faithful brothers and sisters
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” - Philippians 3:17
What is another way to ensure we can conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel? We can look to people in our lives who do it well—and follow their lead. We’ve all heard phrases like “You become who you hang out with,” or “You are the sum of your closest friends and the things you read,” or even “A rising tide raises all ships.” There’s a lot of truth in connecting our formation (physically, mentally, and spiritually) with our closest community. If we value hard work, it’s probably not wise to surround ourselves with the slackers on the team. If we want to improve in a specific skill, we would be wise to spend time with someone who is exceptionally skilled in that area. And if we want to grow in our faith, surrounding ourselves with those who are living out their faith (again, on and off the field) best positions us to grow.
6. Find your joy in God
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” - Philippians 4:4
This is a consistent theme throughout Paul’s letter to the Philippians. And it’s especially important because he is writing to them from a Roman prison! It’s easier in sport for our joy to be contingent on a result or circumstance. But Paul encourages us that finding our joy “in the Lord” is an essential pursuit, regardless of a win or a loss. Finding joy in the Lord is a skill that can be developed. It starts with finding ways to prioritize His presence through every aspect of our athletic experience.
7. Be gentle
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” - Philippians 4:5
Gentleness is a word that rarely, if ever, makes our list of team values. We never see “gentleness” painted on locker room walls. And yet, the Bible implores us to be people marked by gentleness. Why? It’s a reflection of the very heart of Jesus (Matthew 11:19), and it’s part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). In sports, gentleness is at least the ability to give grace to ourselves and others. The unpredictability of sport provides a great measuring stick for our gentleness muscles. When things go south, are we harsh with our teammates? When we fall short of expectations, are we quick to blame? To put it bluntly, this is not about being soft. It’s about not being a butt. Christians can (and should!) play with intensity and high effort. But our posture toward others can still be marked by gentleness.
8. Stop worrying
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6
Anxiety is often explained as “the mind and body’s reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It’s the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread.” Is there anything that elicits worry and anxiety in life more than sports? Especially if we buy into the lie that our identity is shaped by how we perform, good or bad. That means every time the whistle blows, it’s not just the game that’s on the line, but who we are as people. No wonder we’re anxious athletes. Here’s the thing: God does not want us to live as anxious athletes—or as anxious people. He wants us to acknowledge our reality, give Him our worries, and trust that He is big enough to handle it. It’s one of the reasons we should pray. Anxious before a game? Pray about it. Anxious before a big moment in the game? Pray about it. Anxious about a meeting with a coach? Pray about it. God wants you to live in freedom, not fear. So talk to Him and ask Him for it.
9. Have heavenly metrics
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” - Philippians 4:8
Assuming you have the ability to let your mind wander at times, what do you think about? When you're not scrolling or posting or streaming something, where do your thoughts go? Paul is saying that we should make it a goal to think about the good things in life. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “Stop and smell the roses,” that’s the vibe Paul is giving off here. What would it look like for you to curate a list of these “such things” within the context of sport? What do you think Paul would encourage you to think about? (This could be a great Bible study topic)
10. Put it all into practice
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” - Philippians 4:9
Paul would’ve loved Nike’s slogan. He didn’t just want the Philippians to read and talk about his letter, or simply meditate on his words. He wanted them to live this out together. Put it into practice. Just go and do it. This applies to us today, too. Let’s have great theology as athletes—and live so practically that our teammates, coaches, and friends see something different in us.
