John Calvin 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)

But I keep under my body. Budaeus reads Observo (I keep a watch over); but in my opinion, the Apostle has employed the word ὑπωπιάζειν here to mean treating in a servile manner. For he declares that he does not indulge himself but restrains his inclinations—which cannot be accomplished unless the body is tamed and, by being held back from its inclinations, is habituated to subjection, like a wild and refractory steed.

The ancient monks, in order to yield obedience to this precept, contrived many exercises of discipline: for they slept on benches, they forced themselves to long watchings, and shunned delicacies. The main thing, however, was lacking in them, for they did not understand why the Apostle enjoins this, because they lost sight of another injunction—

to take no concern for our flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof (Romans 13:14).

For what he says elsewhere (1 Timothy 4:8) always holds good—that bodily exercise profiteth little. Let us, however, treat the body so as to make a slave of it, that it may not, by its wantonness, keep us back from the duties of piety; and further, that we may not indulge it, so as to cause injury, or offense, to others.

That, when I have preached to others. Some explain these words in this way— “Lest, after having taught others with propriety and faithfulness, I should incur the judgment of condemnation in the sight of God by a wicked life.” But it will suit better to view this expression as referring to men, in this way— “My life ought to be a kind of rule to others. Accordingly, I strive to conduct myself in such a manner that my character and conduct may not be inconsistent with my doctrine, and that thus I may not, with great disgrace to myself and a grievous occasion of offense to my brethren, neglect those things which I require from others.” It may also be taken in connection with a preceding statement (1 Corinthians 9:23), in this way— “Lest I should be defrauded of the gospel, of which others are partakers by means of my labors.”