EasyEnglish Bible 2018
1 Corinthians 9:25
25People who run in races prepare their bodies well. They make themselves work very hard. They do this so that they will win a prize that will quickly become spoiled. But we work hard to receive a prize that will never become spoiled.
1 Corinthians 9:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
- New International Version (NIV)Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Context of 1 Corinthians 9:25
23I want to help people to accept God's good news. That is why I do all these things. I want to share in the good things that the good news gives to believers. 24Think about how people run in a race. All the runners run, but only one of them receives the prize. You must run like that, to win the race. People who run in races prepare their bodies well. They make themselves work very hard. They do this so that they will win a prize that will quickly become spoiled. But we work hard to receive a prize that will never become spoiled. 26Because of that, I do not run with no purpose. I do not fight like someone who only hits the air. 27I make my body do what I want it to do. I make it like my slave. I have told God's message to other people. I do not want to lose the prize myself. So I try very much to obey the rules of the race.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 9:25 word by word
πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος πάντα ἐγκρατεύεται· ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν ἵνα φθαρτὸν στέφανον λάβωσιν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄφθαρτον.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- every manπᾶςpas · allG3956
- striveth for the masteryἀγωνίζομαιagōnizomai · to struggleG75
- is temperateἐγκρατεύομαιegkrateuomai · to self-controlG1467
- Nowοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- theyἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- obtainλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- a corruptibleφθαρτόςphthartos · perishableG5349
- crownστέφανοςstephanos · crownG4735
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- an incorruptibleἄφθαρτοςaphthartos · incorruptibleG862
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:25
- Ephesians 6:12We are not fighting against human enemies. Instead, we are fighting against the rulers and the powerful spirits that have authority over this dark world. We are fighting against the bad spirits who live in the heavens.
- 1 Timothy 6:12Continue to believe God's true message. Be like someone who fights well to keep it safe. God has chosen you to live with him for ever. You stood in front of many people and said clearly that you believed in Jesus Christ. So live in a way that shows that you belong to him.
- 2 Timothy 2:5It is the same with an athlete who runs a race. He cannot win the race unless he obeys the rules.
- 2 Timothy 4:7I have worked to serve Christ well. I have finished everything that God wanted me to do. I am like a runner who has run to the end of the race. I have continued to believe God's true message.
- Hebrews 12:4You have been fighting against sin in your lives. But you have not yet had to fight like that until someone killed you.
- Galatians 5:23We respect other people and we rule ourselves properly. God's Spirit helps us to live in that way. There is no law that says these things are wrong.
- 2 Peter 1:6Then you should learn to control yourselves properly. That is not all. You should also learn to be patient and brave. And you should live in a way that pleases God.
- 1 Corinthians 15:54God will give us new bodies like that. When that happens, what is written in the Bible will become true. It says: ‘God has won against death. He has destroyed it completely!’
- 2 Timothy 4:8So now a gift is waiting for me. The Lord will make me completely right with him. That will be like a crown which the Lord will give me on that great day when he judges people. He is the judge who is fair and right. He will not only give that gift to me. He will give it to all those people who love him. They will be happy to see him when he comes again.
- Hebrews 12:28But we are receiving a place where we will rule with God. We belong to God's kingdom, and nobody can ever shake that! So we should thank God. We should worship him in a way that makes him happy. He is great, and we should serve him well and respect him.
- James 1:12Some people continue to trust God even when troubles happen. God will bless those people, if they show that they really trust him. He will give them the gift which is life with him. He has promised to give this gift to all people who love him.
- 1 Peter 1:4We wait to receive all the good things that he has prepared for us. Nobody can ever destroy those things. Nothing can spoil them. They will never become old or less beautiful. God is keeping those things in heaven for you.
- 1 Peter 5:4Then our master, Christ, will give you a beautiful crown when he appears. That is a great gift that will never become old or less beautiful. He is the great Shepherd who takes care of us.
- Revelation 2:10I know that trouble will soon come to you. But do not be afraid. Listen! The Devil will cause some of you to go to prison. He wants to see whether you will continue to believe in me. As a result, you will suffer for ten days. But continue to trust me, even if you die. Then you will win against the Devil. I will give you a gift, as they give a crown to the winner of a race. You will have life with me for ever.
- Revelation 3:11I will come soon. Continue to obey my message that you already know. Then nobody can take away your crown which is God's gift to you.
- Revelation 4:4All around the throne there were 24 other thrones. 24 leaders were sitting on these thrones. They were wearing white clothes and they had gold crowns on their heads.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Is temperate in all things - All those who contended in these exercises went through a long state and series of painful preparations. To this exact discipline Epictetus refers, cap. 35: ; ', , , , ̔ , , , , ̔ · ̔, ̔ ͅ, ͅ · · . . . "Do you wish to gain the prize at the Olympic games? - Consider the requisite preparations and the consequences: you must observe a strict regimen; must live on food which you dislike; you must abstain from all delicacies; must…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery - ( ̔ ̓́ ho agōnizomenos). That “agonizes;” that is, that is engaged in the exercise of “wrestling, boxing,” or pitching the bar or quoit; compare the note at Luke 13:24. The sense is, everyone who endeavors to obtain a victory in these athletic exercises. Is temperate in all things - The word which is rendered “is temperate” ( ̓ egkrateuetai) denotes “abstinence” from all that would excite, stimulate, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-27Verses 24-27 The apostle compares himself to the racers and combatants in the Isthmian games, well known by the Corinthians. But in the Christian race all may run so as to obtain. There is the greatest encouragement, therefore, to persevere with all our strength, in this course. Those who ran in these games were kept to a spare diet. They used themselves to hardships. They practised the exercises. And those who pursue the interests of their souls, must…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24-27To show how seriously the Corinthians must take their salvation, Paul refers to the Isthmian games, a well-known athletic event held in Corinth every two years. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline: Athletes must have strict self-discipline to compete for a prize. In Paul's time, athletes trained rigorously for months before competing. Similarly, strict self-discipline (see Galatians 5:22–23) is needed to achieve the eternal…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. striveth--in wrestling: a still more severe contest than the foot race. is temperate--So Paul exercised self-denial, abstaining from claiming sustenance for the sake of the "reward," namely, to "gain the more" (1Co 9:18, 19). corruptible--soon withering, as being only of fir leaves taken from the fir groves which surrounded the Isthmian race course or stadium. incorruptible--(1Pe 1:4; 5:4; Re 2:10). "Crown" here is not that of a king (which is…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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