Sport Parallels Scripture: The New Testament Edition

After exploring the compelling parallels between sport and the Old Testament (Old Testament Edition), we will now focus our attention to the athletic analogies present in the New Testament. Undoubtedly, the following illustrations provide a brief timeline for rookie fans and new followers, while encompassing significant figures and events of scripture and sport, alike. Ultimately, the comprehensive guide may also prove an invaluable teaching tool, when discussing the revered histories of faith and sport.

Mary and Joseph (Famous Sports Couples): Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra, Chris Evert and Greg Norman, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

The Three Wise Men (Famous Trios): Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance, Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith, and Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale.

King Herod (Commissioner of Controversy): Commissioner Bud Selig.

Gabriel (Greatest Angels in the Outfield): Vladimir Guerrerro, Tim Salmon, and Garrett Anderson.

John the Baptist (Greats Who Paved the Way): Babe Ruth, Bill Russell, Gordie Howe, Jesse Owens, and Jim Brown.

Jesus at the Temple (The Next Wave of Great Young Athletes): Jason Heyward, Aroldis Chapman, and Steven Strasburg (MLB), Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh (NFL), John Wall and Evan Turner (NBA).

Water into Wine (Championship Drought into Champagne): Most recently, the New Orleans Saints, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Pittsburgh Penguins, Duke Blue Devils, and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Walking on Water (Walking in Water):Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie.

Zaccheus (Famous Undersized Athletes):Mugsy Bogues, Doug Flutie, Scott Hamilton, Ben Hogan, and Barry Sanders.

Lazarus (Famous Sports Survivors):Rocky Bleier, Tommy John, Magic Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Mario Lemieux, Jon Lester, Josh Hamilton, Sean Elliott, and Alonzo Mourning, amongst many other courageous comeback stories.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Touching Tales of Injured Athlete Assistance): Derek Redmond and Dad in the 1992 Olympics, Byron Leftwich and the University of Marshall linemen, and the Western Oregon softball team in 2008.

The Parable of the Rich Fool (Owners of Frivolous Fame): Jerry Jones, Peter Angelos, and Daniel Snyder.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Cheap Refreshments): The Sacramento Kings hosted $1 Beer Night in 2009.

Jesus Drives Out the Demon (Individual Sport Championship Exorcisms): Recent cases include Peyton Manning, Kevin Garnett, and Alex Rodriguez.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Late-Round Draft Picks): The decade's most valuable draft steals such as Tom Brady (No. 199), Albert Pujols (13^th Round), and NBA second-round selections Michael Redd, Gilbert Arenas, and Carlos Boozer.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Athletes Advocating Abstinence): A.C Green, Darrell Green, Mark Brunell, and Tim Tebow

The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Rams' Draft Busts): The team's greatest first-round disappointments from the decade, such as Trung Canidate, Damione Lewis, Robert Thomas, Jimmy Kennedy, Tye Hill, Adam Carriker, Chris Long (?), and Jason Smith (?).

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Athletes and Coaches Returning for Round Two): Recent re-runs feature Ken Griffey Jr., Nick Johnson, Javier Vasquez, Miguel Tejada, Tatum Bell, Larry Foote, Joe Gibbs, John Carney, Allen Iverson, Don Nelson, and Jason Kidd.

Peter and Andrew (Sports' Best Brothers): Joe and Phil Niekro, Peyton and Eli Manning, Al and Bobby Unser, Phil and Tony Esposito.

The 12 Disciples (Anointed Teammates): Murderer's Row.

The Last Supper (Famous Pre-Game Meals): Wade Boggs (chicken), David Wells (booze), and Bernie Carbo (two joints, three or four beers, amphetamines, a pain pill, a cup of coffee, some chewing tobacco, and a cigarette, as reported by the Huffington Post).

Judas of Iscariot (Turncoat Coaches): Recent examples include Nick Saban, Chip Kelly, Lane Kiffin, Rich Rodriguez, and Bobby Petrino.

Luke the Physician (Notable Sports' "Doc's"): Dr. James Naismith, "Doctor J" Julius Erving, Dwight "Doc" Gooden," Dr. James Andrews, Glenn "Doc" Rivers, Roy "Doc" Halladay, "Doctor Dunkenstein" Darrell Griffith, Dr. Tom Osborne, Dr. Tom Davis, and Dr. Jack Ramsey.

Matthew (Tax Collector/Revenue Sharing): George Steinbrenner.

Doubting Thomas (Miracle Moments): Sports' greatest "miracle moments," such as, the 1980 Miracle on Ice, Bannister breaks the 4-minute mile barrier, Beamon sets the Long Jump World Record, Bolt shatters the 100-meter World Record, Phelps' eight Olympic gold medals, Flutie's Hail Mary, Mary Lou Retton's perfect 10, North Carolina State's National Championship upset, the Immaculate Reception, Laettner's buzzer-beater, Michael Jordan (several times), and Boise State's Fiesta Bowl heroics.

Saul to Paul (Famous Sports Name Changes): Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Bobby Moore to Ahmad Rashad, Chris Jackson to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and Chad Johnson to Chad Ochocinco.

Paul, Part 2 (Traveling Sportsmen for Sale): Mike Morgan and Matt Stairs (MLB), Chucky Brown and Jimmy Jackson (NBA), Chris Chandler and Jeff George (NFL), and Mike Sillinger (NHL).

John in Exile (Career Destination Unknown): Michael Jordan to Washington, Hakeem Olajuwon to Toronto, Patrick Ewing to Seattle, Dominique Wilkins to Orlando, Karl Malone to Los Angeles, O.J. Simpson to San Francisco, Joe Namath to St. Louis, Joe Montana to Kansas City, Jerry Rice to Oakland and Seattle, Emmitt Smith to Arizona, and Wayne Gretzky to Saint Louis.

Reference: The Huffington Post."Bernie Carbo: I Was On Drugs During World Series," http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/02/bernie-carboi-was-on-drug_n_523784.html.

Rams' Draft Results as Referenced on Pro-Football-Reference.com.