1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Spiritual athletics. Paul compares the Christian life to a foot race and to a boxing contest. These were familiar to the Corinthians, being conspicuous features of the celebrated Isthmian games. A wise teacher speaks through things known of things unknown. Christ spoke in parables. Passing events may be made the vehicles of abiding truths. The secular may often illustrate the sacred. There is no loss of dignity or impropriety in such modes of instruction. Some people are shocked by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The race for the prize. The thought introduced in 1 Corinthians 9:23 , that Paul's self denial had a reference to his own salvation as well as the salvation of others, is here carried on and applied generally to all Christians. The imagery is derived from the Isthmian games celebrated in the neighbourhood of Corinth, and therefore well known to his readers. These games occupied a place in the national life of Greece corresponding to that occupied by the great yearly festivals in the life... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Running and fighting. The crown of eternal life is here set forth as the issue of successful conflict with difficulties and foes. It would seem as if all Divine excellence must needs present itself to our minds as the negation of opposite forms of evil. We cannot think of God but as the "Light" that contends with our darkness, the "Fire" that consumes our corruption. God's Law is but the Divine restraint of our wayward propensities, the Divine rebuke of our trangressions. The Divine life... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The laws of the Christian race. The illustration used in these verses is one which St. Paul frequently employs, and we cannot but think that he must have actually seen some of these games, for the impression made by them on his mind is that which comes from personal observation and impression rather than from knowledge through books. There is special force in his allusions to the games in writing to the Corinthians, because the set of games known as the Isthmian were held in the isthmus on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:25

That striveth for the mastery; rather, that strives to win in a contest. St. Paul never allows his converts to dream of the indefectibility of grace, and so to slide into antinomian security. He often reminds them of the extreme severity and continuousness of the contest ( Ephesians 6:12 , 1 Timothy 6:12 ). Is temperate in all things. One good moral result which sprang from the ancient system of athleticism was the self denial and self mastery which it required. The candidate for a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:25

"An incorruptible crown." There was an ardour of temperament, a resoluteness of purpose, in the constitution and moral life of Paul, which made the imagery of this passage peculiarly congenial to his soul. He was fired with a sacred ambition, and he sought to inspire his hearers and readers with something of his own enthusiasm. His glowing imagination could realize something of the glory gained by the successful athlete who was welcomed with honour in his native state, whose statue was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:26

Not as uncertainly. My eye is fixed on a definite goal ( 2 Timothy 1:12 ). So fight I ( Romans 7:23 ; Ephesians 6:12 ; 2 Timothy 4:7 ); literally, so box 1. Not as one that beateth the air; rather, as not beating the air. Not what the Greeks called "a shadow battle." I strike forthright blows, not feints, or blows at random. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

A good servant of Jesus Christ. It was quite in St. Paul's manner to support his exhortations to Christian service by adducing his own example and experience. Those who were not acquainted with him might misconstrue such references and set them down to a vain glorious spirit, but no one could do so who knew how fully and fervently this apostle ascribed all that he was and did as a Christian to the grace of Jesus Christ. "Not I, but the grace of God which was with me." "Not I, but Christ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:27

I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; literally, I bruise my body, and lead it about as a slave. The word tamely rendered "keep in subjection" means literally, I smite under the eyes. The pugilistic metaphor is kept up, and the picturesque force of the words would convey a vivid impression to Corinthians familiar with the contests of the Pancratum, in which boxing with the heavy lead-bound caestus played a prominent part. The only other place in the New Testament where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:27

Hell after preaching. "But I keep," etc. These are terrible words, and they teach at least three things. I. THAT DELIVERANCE FROM HELL DEMANDS THE MOST EARNEST SELF DISCIPLINE . "I keep under my body." I subdue the flesh by violent and reiterated blows. The reason for this mortification of the flesh is, "lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Self discipline may be said to consist of two things. 1. The entire... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:26

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:27

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