Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:25

"And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." — 1 Corinthians 9:25 (ASV)

Every man that striveth for the mastery.—Better, Every one that enters into the contest. The Greek word (agonizomenos) is identical with the English “agonize.” Hence the use in devotional works of the phrase “to agonize in prayer,” etc.

Is temperate in all things.—He fulfills not only some, but all of the necessary preliminary conditions. He indulges himself in no way.

They do it to obtain a corruptible crown.—There are two striking points of contrast between the earthly race and the spiritual course.

In the earthly contest, only one obtains a reward; in the heavenly race, no one needs to fail to obtain it.

That reward in the one case is perishable; in the other, it is imperishable.

If, then—this is St. Paul’s argument—people show such extraordinary devotion and self-sacrifice for a reward that is merely perishable, and which each has only a chance of gaining, what devotion and self-sacrifice should not then be shown by those for all of whom an imperishable reward is certain!