Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:27

"but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected." — 1 Corinthians 9:27 (ASV)

By way of practical application, Paul now gives a strong exhortation for Christian self-denial, using himself as an example and employing athletic figures familiar to the Corinthians at their own Isthmian athletic games, hosted every other year by the people of Corinth. The particular events he refers to are running and boxing.

Paul assumes their common knowledge of the foot race in the stadium (v.25).

Every one of the Corinthians believers should run as these runners do, with an all-out effort to get the prize. “Strict training” refers to the athlete’s self-control in diet and his rigorous bodily discipline. Paul observes that the athletes train vigorously for a “corruptible crown”—a laurel or celery wreath that would soon wither away. But the Christian’s crown, eternal life and fellowship with God, will last forever (Revelation 2:10).

Paul says of himself that he does not contend like an undisciplined runner or boxer. Rather, he aims his blows against his own body, beating it black and blue. The picture is graphic: the ancient boxers devastatingly punishing one another with knuckles bound with leather thongs. So by pummeling his body, Paul enslaves it in order to gain the Christian prize.

In the Greek games, there was a herald who announced the rules of the contest; but Paul is not only a Christian herald (i.e, preacher), he is also one who plays in the game. That is, he not only preached the Gospel but he also lived by the Gospel’s rules. True Christians, while confident of God’s sovereign grace, are nevertheless conscious of their own battle against sin. They do not want to be “disqualified [i.e., tested and disapproved] for the prize.”