1 Corinthians 9:27 Meaning and Explanation
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul disciplines his own body and brings it under control, lest after preaching to others he himself should be disqualified.
What Does 1 Corinthians 9:27 Mean?
Paul closes the chapter with a sober word about self-discipline. He treats his body like an athlete in training, subduing it and bringing it into submission to his higher purpose. He does this so that, having preached to others, he might not himself prove disqualified.
The image is striking: the great apostle does not presume upon his calling but labors to keep his own life in step with his message. Preaching to others is no guarantee of one's own faithfulness. Paul takes seriously the call to live what he proclaims, mastering his appetites lest they master him. The verse leaves every believer, however gifted, with a holy watchfulness, that we may finish the race we have urged others to run, faithful to the end.
1 Corinthians 9:27 in the Original Language
adokimos (ἀδόκιμος), 'castaway' -- disqualified, failing the test, rejected as unfit.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 9:27
What does 1 Corinthians 9:27 mean?
Paul disciplines his own body and brings it under control, lest after preaching to others he himself should be disqualified.