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 Living Translation (NLT)I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:27

25And 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. 26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become 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 9:25And 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.
• 1 Corinthians 4:11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
• 1 Corinthians 8:13Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
• Romans 8:13For 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 in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
• 2 Corinthians 11:27in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
• Colossians 3:5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• 2 Timothy 2:22Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
• 1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
• Romans 6:18And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
• Psalms 50:16But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
• Luke 12:45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be 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