1 Corinthians 9:24-27

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Perseverance and Patience," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • IV.XXXVII.7, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter III, Ad Martyras, Tertullian (c.197)
  • III.16, IV.15, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • V.XLIX, VII.LII, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • Epistle VIII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "...it was hard for those who were accustomed to loose living, especially when they pretended the liberty of the Gospel, to be restrained in these banquets. But on the other hand, the apostle calls them by a pleasant similitude, and also by his own example, to sobriety and mortification of the flesh, showing that they cannot be fit to run or wrestle (as then the games of Isthmies were) who pamper up their bodies. And therefore affirming that they can have no reward unless they take another course and manner of life."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Those who ran in these games were kept to a spare diet. They used themselves to hardships. They practised the exercises."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "How much greater encouragement have you to run; since ye may all receive the prize of your high calling!"
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...not as one that beateth the air--instead of beating the adversary. Alluding to the sciamachia or sparring in the school in sham-fight (compare 1Co 14:9), wherein they struck out into the air as if at an imaginary adversary. The real adversary is Satan acting on us through the flesh."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "He had spoken of self denial in order to secure gospel success. He now enforces the need of sparing no effort, self denial or exertion, to win the crown."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Karl Jacobson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "The proclamation of the gospel, be it public or private, in front of an audience or one-to-one, can be difficult. As Paul says elsewhere it may seem like foolishness and folly to many who hear it, and this will, from time to time, reflect back on we who proclaim it. But this is our imperishable wreath, the life and salvation of those for whom and with whom we run this race."
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Epiphany 6, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Paul's Lord, Jesus, was not a slave of patterns (or the lord of patterns!) and obsessed with being a lord, but one who emptied himself, poured himself out."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Sports in the Christian Life," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Sports," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2008.
  • "Run the Race to Get the Prize," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
• Articles & Background:
  • "The Agon Topos in Paul and Hellenistic Moralists," Russell B. Sisson, Queen: A Journal of Rhetoric and Power.
  • From The Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse: Rhetoric, Society and Ideology, Dr. Vernon Robbins, London: Routledge, 1996:
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Argumentative texture
      • "The key to the argumentative nature of the opening of the chapter is the rhetorical force of interrogatio, asking a question as an emphatic way of making an assertion."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Cultural Intertexture (ex. 1)
      • "In the midst of all of these similarities between Philonic and Pauline discourse, there is a striking difference in their use of the image of the slave."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Cultural Intertexture (ex. 2)
      • "In the end, then, the true philosopher submits his own will to the will of God so that he wills what God wills for him. This is an amazing similarity with Paul, compelled to preached the gospel but free, because he freely chooses to endure hardship to offer it free of charge."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Historical Intertexture
      • "Thus, much as Pauline discourse reconfigures and reconceptualizes the speech of Jesus, so it reconfigures and reconceptualizes the important historical episodes in Christian discourse."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Ideology in individuals and groups
      • "Underlying my approach is a presupposition that both fragmented and eclectic interpretations can be very misleading. In fact, I consider partial information, at certain levels of interpretation, to lead to false conclusions."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Narrational texture
      • "In summary, one of the most obvious narrational aspects of 1 Cor. 9 is the presence of nineteen questions that extend from the opening verse to the opening statement of the conclusion."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Opening-middle-closing texture
      • "On the basis of major aspects of repetitive and progressive texture in 1 Cor. 9 a basic opening, middle and closing begins clearly to appear, as well as basic movement in the middle part."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Sensory-aesthetic texture
      • "A key to the discourse is the manner in which it, in the end, embodies the full range of the senses it evokes in an image it creates of the `Paul' who embodies the gospel of Christ."
    • 1 Corinthians 9: Social intertexture
      • "Dale Martin's investigation shows, in addition, that many stewards in Mediterranean society were 'slaves'--middle-level 'managerial' slaves. The existence of this level of slave calls into question many previous interpretations of 1 Cor. 9. This evidence suggests that Paul is not completely demeaning himself, but is referring to a type of slavery that could, in fact, be a means to attain upward social mobility."
  • "One God, One Lord, One People: Incarnational Christology for a Church in a Pagan Environment," N.T. Wright. At North Park Seminary's Ex Auditu.
    • "It means, clearly, that love and concern for other members of the community is to be placed ahead of all attempts at personal self-realization."
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  • Garland, David E., "The Dispute Over food Sacrificed to Idols (1 Cor 8:1 - 11:1)," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2003.
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  • Hullinger, Jerry M., "The Historical Background of Paul's Athletic Allusions," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2004.
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  • Nasuti, Harry P., "The Woes of the Prophets and the Rights of the Apostle: The Internal Dynamics of 1 Corinthians 9," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1988.
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  • Smit, Joop F.M., "The Rhetorical Disposition of First Corinthians 8:7 - 9:27," the Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1997.
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  • Smit Sibinga, Joost, "The Composition of 1 Corinthians 9 and Its Context," Novum Testament, 1998.
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  • Songer, Harold S., "Problems Arising from the Worship of Idols: 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1," Review & Expositor, 1983.
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  • Still, E. Coye, III, "Paul's Aims Regarding EIDWLOTHUTA: A New Proposal for Interpreting 1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1," Novum Testamentum, 2002.
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  • Sumney, Jerry L., "The Place of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 in Paul's Argument," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2000.
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  • Willis, Wendell, "1 Corinthians 8-10: A Retrospective after Twenty-Five Years," Restoration Quarterly, 2007.
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• Reviews:
  • Review: John Fotopoulos, Food Offered to Idols in Roman Corinth: A Social-Rhetorical Reconsideration of 1 Corinthians 8:1 - 11:1. Mohr Siebeck, 2003. Review by Alex Cheung in The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2004.
  • Phua, Richard  Liong-Seng, Idolatry and Authority: A Study of 1 Corinthians 8:1 - 11:1 in the Light of the Jewish Diaspora. T&T Clark, 2005. Review by Scott McClelland, Review of Biblical Literature, 2008.
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • "Let the Games Begin!" Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Winning the Race Requires Purpose," Fr. Max Bowers, Kid's Church.
  • "The World Game," Rev. Dr. Edgar Mayer, Lutheran Church of Australia.
  • "We Run for a Crown that Will Last Forever," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Running the Race," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Avoid, Ignore or Quit," Joanne Miller, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?"
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies and movie scenes with these themes:
  • spiritual discipline/self-control
  • endurance
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 Corinthians