THE RACE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE AND MINISTRY

Passage: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Key verse: 24

NIV

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(B) to win as many as possible.(C) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(D) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(E) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(F) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(G) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(H) I have become all things to all people(I) so that by all possible means I might save some.(J) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(K) Run(L) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(M) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(N) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(O) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(P) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(Q) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(R)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

19 For (A)though I am free from all, (B)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might (C)win more of them. 20 (D)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To (E)those outside the law I became (F)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but (G)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 (H)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. (I)I have become all things to all people, that (J)by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, (K)that I may share with them in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives (L)the prize? So (M)run that you may obtain it. 25 Every (N)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we (O)an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I (P)do not box as one (Q)beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and (R)keep it under control,[a] lest after preaching to others (S)I myself should be (T)disqualified.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul has explained how Christians have many rights as children of God, but that he himself did not use those rights, in order that the gospel message from him would not be hindered. (12b) Now he describes the full extent of his own example, showing how much he denied himself, even changing his lifestyle to be able to deliver the gospel message to all kinds of people (22). He uses strong language, figuratively calling himself a “slave of all people” (19). This is true missionary spirit.

Paul also brought this up as a rebuke to certain Corinthian Christians, who were trying to see how much of a worldly life they could live and still be called Christians. Anyone with such an attitude is missing the entire point of Christian life. Christian life for all believers is like a race, requiring discipline and self-denial, as Jesus himself spoke of taking up our cross to follow him. Ultimately, it is we who must discipline ourselves for this race (27). It is worth it because, unlike earthly races, this is a race for an eternal prize (25).

Prayer: Father, thank you the example of Jesus and of Paul who took up their crosses. Grant me willingness and commitment to undertake the discipline necessary to run a good race of faith.

One Word: Discipline to run the race