1 Corinthians 9:27

1 Corinthians 9:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:27

25Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 26So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:27 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ὑπωπιάζω μου τὸ σῶμα καὶ δουλαγωγῶ, μή πως ἄλλοις κηρύξας αὐτὸς ἀδόκιμος γένωμαι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• I keep underὑπωπιάζωhupōpiazō · to wear outG5299
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• bodyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• bringδουλαγωγέωdoulagōgeō · to enslaveG1396
• lest that by any meansμήπωςmēpōs mē pōs · so thatG3381
• when I have preachedκηρύσσωkērussō · to preachG2784
• to othersἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
• I myselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• should beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• a castawayἀδόκιμοςadokimos · failingG96

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:27

• 1 Corinthians 9:25Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
• 1 Corinthians 4:11To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12“All things are lawful for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me” – but I will not be controlled by anything.
• 1 Corinthians 8:13For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.
• Romans 8:13(for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.
• 2 Corinthians 6:4But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,
• 2 Corinthians 11:27in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing.
• Colossians 3:5So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.
• 2 Timothy 2:22But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
• 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
• Romans 6:18and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 13:1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
• Psalms 50:16God says this to the evildoer: “How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant?
• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
• Luke 12:45But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk,
• Luke 13:26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27But I keep under my body, etc. - This is an allusion, not only to boxers, but also to wrestlers in the same games, as we learn from the word ̔, which signifies to hit in the eyes; and , which signifies to trip, and give the antagonist a fall, and then keep him down when he was down, and having obliged him to acknowledge himself conquered, make him a slave. The apostle considers his body as an enemy with which he must contend; he must mortify it by…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27But I keep under my body - ( ̔́ hupōpiazō). This word occurs in the New Testament only here and in Luke 18:5, “Lest by her continual coming she weary‘ me.” The word is derived probably from ̔́ hupōpionthe part of the face “under the eye” (Passow), and means properly, to strike under the eye, either with the fist or the cestus, so as to render the part livid, or as we say, “black and blue”; or as is commonly termed, “to give anyone a black eye.” The…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. 27I myself will not be disqualified: Those disqualified from a sporting event cannot win the prize. To avoid losing the eternal prize, Paul disciplined himself strictly, like an athlete, to stay close to Christ and avoid sin (see 9:25; Hebrews 12:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. keep under--literally, "bruise the face under the eyes," so as to render it black and blue; so, to chastise in the most sensitive part. Compare "mortify the deeds of the body," Ro 8:13; also 1Pe 2:11. It is not ascetic fasts or macerations of the body which are here recommended, but the keeping under of our natural self-seeking, so as, like Paul, to lay ourselves out entirely for the great work. my body--the old man and the remainders of lust in my…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:27

• Affections
• Apostasy
• Appetite
• Captivity
• Continence
• Lasciviousness
• Lust
• Minister, Christian
• Self-Denial
• Stoicism
• Temperance
• War
• Watchfulness
• Wicked (People)
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Castaway
• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Reprobate
• Wait
• Body
• Buffet
• Burden

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