1 Corinthians 9:26 NIV

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 9:26

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:26

I therefore so run - In the Christian race; in my effort to obtain the prize, the crown of immortality. I exert myself to the utmost, that I may not fail of securing the crown.Not as uncertainly - (οὐκ ἀδήλως ouk adēlōs). This word occurs no where else in the New Testament. It usually means, in the Classic writers, “obscurely.” Here it means that he did not run as not knowing to what object he aimed. “I do not run haphazardly; I do not exert myself for nothing; I know at what I aim, and I... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

1 Corinthians 9:26-27. I therefore The reward being so great; so run, not as uncertainly For I see the goal I am to run to, I keep it continually in view, and run straight to it, casting off every weight, and not regarding any that stand by, so as to be prevented from, or hindered in running, by looking at them. Or, I run not as one that is to pass unnoticed, or undistinguished: as αδηλως seems here to imply; and not without attending to the marks and lines which determine the path in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Necessity for self-discipline (9:24-27)Christianity is a life of effort. As runners in a race strain to the full to win the prize, so Christians should put all their effort into whatever they do (24). As athletes undergo strict training in their pursuit of victory, so Christians should deny themselves lawful pleasures and foods in order to be more useful for God (25). Paul has purpose and effort in all that he does. He is like a runner who heads for the finishing line or a boxer who aims to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 9:26

as . "As" should precede "not". uncertainly . Greek. adelos. Only here. Compare 1 Corinthians 14:8 . 1 Timothy 6:17 . He runs with clear understanding of the conditions and object. See "one thing", Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:13 . fight = fight with the fist, box. Greek. pukteuo. Only here. The noun pugme , fist, occ Mark 7:3 . In these contests it was more than boxing. Instead of a padded glove the hand was covered with the cestus, which consisted of leather bands, studded with... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:26

I therefore run, as not uncertainly; so fight I as not beating the air.This indicates that "The whole of this chapter has been a vindication of Paul's self-denial,"[21] the object of it being the persuasion of the Corinthian boasters of their "liberty" to follow Paul's example by denying themselves all indulgence at the expense of the faith of their weaker brethren.Beating the air ... is a reference to boxers who missed with their punches and so lost the fight. "Uncertainly ..." has reference... 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 9:26

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 9:26

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:26

Group of Brands