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Hello Hope. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 speaks about his rights as an apostle (vv 1-14), yet not using them to take advantage of the Church (v 15) or to detract from his calling to preach (v16). Then he writes about how he fulfilled his calling (i.e. not looking for an earthly reward; being a servant to all he ministered to; identifying with both Jew & Gentile; & getting alongside the weak in spirit & conscience: vv 17-23).
That was Paul's introduction to what it took for him to strive for the crown that lay before him. His ultimate crown was that which would be given to him by the Lord, whether the Crown of Glory, Crown of Rejoicing, Crown of Life, or Crown of Righteousness. But he knew to receive the Lord's best, he would need to be disciplined in both life & service to others with the Gospel.
And so, in verses 24 to 27, Paul sees his life & ministry as that of a foot race (a hard, tiring race to make it first to the finish line). Paul may well have been thinking of the Isthmian games which were held every two years in Corinth, & an event the Corinthians would be very familiar with. So, he uses those games to speak about the high state of discipline & rigorous training that athletes have to go through if there would be any real chance of them gaining a win. But those athletes aim for an earthly crown (probably a wreath or an official city honor or statue). This was their time of (man's) glory which would fade away in due course.
But what Paul was striving for was for an incorruptible crown: one that the Lord gives to those who have lived their lives & had served well for God's Glory. This honor doesn't fade away & to get it requires the believer to be careful in their lives, disciplined, & living for the coming of the Lord. But Paul also saw that if his life & witness were hypocritical before others, the preaching of the Gospel would be meaningless & souls would be lost forever. Paul went all out for the Lord & he wanted the believers to do likewise.
That was Paul's introduction to what it took for him to strive for the crown that lay before him. His ultimate crown was that which would be given to him by the Lord, whether the Crown of Glory, Crown of Rejoicing, Crown of Life, or Crown of Righteousness. But he knew to receive the Lord's best, he would need to be disciplined in both life & service to others with the Gospel.
And so, in verses 24 to 27, Paul sees his life & ministry as that of a foot race (a hard, tiring race to make it first to the finish line). Paul may well have been thinking of the Isthmian games which were held every two years in Corinth, & an event the Corinthians would be very familiar with. So, he uses those games to speak about the high state of discipline & rigorous training that athletes have to go through if there would be any real chance of them gaining a win. But those athletes aim for an earthly crown (probably a wreath or an official city honor or statue). This was their time of (man's) glory which would fade away in due course.
But what Paul was striving for was for an incorruptible crown: one that the Lord gives to those who have lived their lives & had served well for God's Glory. This honor doesn't fade away & to get it requires the believer to be careful in their lives, disciplined, & living for the coming of the Lord. But Paul also saw that if his life & witness were hypocritical before others, the preaching of the Gospel would be meaningless & souls would be lost forever. Paul went all out for the Lord & he wanted the believers to do likewise.
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