1 Korinther 9:25

25 Jeder aber, der kämpft, ist enthaltsam in allem; jene freilich, auf daß sie eine vergängliche Krone empfangen, wir aber eine unvergängliche.

1 Korinther 9:25 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 9:25

And every man that striveth for the mastery
Either in running a race, or in wrestling; for the word here used agrees with both, and both are in the context referred to, nor has the apostle as yet done with his allusion to running in a race;

is temperate in all things;
contains himself from venery, abstains from certain sorts of food, which tend to hinder the agility, or weaken the strength of the body; and indulges not himself in sloth and idleness, but exercises himself in various manners, that he may be prepared for running or wrestling: the apostle's view in this, seems to be to strengthen some exhortations he had already given, to abstain from fornication, and the immoderate use of venery; to forbear eating things offered to idols, and not give themselves up to luxury and intemperance; for should they be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, they would be very unfit for their Christian race, or for wrestling with principalities and powers, and the discharging of the business of a Christian profession:

now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;
they confine themselves to a certain diet and course of living, and abstain from things otherwise desirable to nature; and this they do for the sake of a fading crown, a crown of leaves, made of the boughs and leaves of olives, laurels, pine or of parsley, green or dried, as before observed ^F20:

but we an incorruptible;
even eternal life; compared to a crown, for the riches, glory, and lustre of it; and as suitable to the character and dignity of saints, who are kings as well as priests unto God: it is called "incorruptible", because it is so in its own nature; nor can it be corrupted by other things, as crowns even of gold may; nor shall any corrupt person wear it; the corruption of nature must be removed from the saints, yea, that frailty and mortality of human nature, which sometimes goes by the name of corruption, must be taken away, ere they can inherit this crown and kingdom; nor will it ever fade away, as the corruptible crowns of the conquerors in these games did, and that in a very short time; but this will last for ever, and always continue in the same glory and lustre.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Vid. Alex. ab Alex, Genial. Dier. l. 5. c. 8.

1 Korinther 9:25 In-Context

23 Ich tue aber alles um des Evangeliums willen, auf daß ich mit ihm teilhaben möge.

24 Wisset ihr nicht, daß die, welche in der Rennbahn laufen, zwar alle laufen, aber einer den Preis empfängt? Laufet also, auf daß ihr ihn erlanget.

25 Jeder aber, der kämpft, ist enthaltsam in allem; jene freilich, auf daß sie eine vergängliche Krone empfangen, wir aber eine unvergängliche.

26 Ich laufe daher also, nicht wie aufs ungewisse; ich kämpfe also, nicht wie einer, der die Luft schlägt;

27 sondern ich zerschlage meinen Leib und führe ihn in Knechtschaft, auf daß ich nicht, nachdem ich anderen gepredigt, selbst verwerflich werde.