1 Corinthians 9:24

1 Corinthians 9:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
• New International Version (NIV)Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:24

22When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

1 Corinthians 9:24 word by word

Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν τρέχουσιν, εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον; οὕτως τρέχετε ἵνα καταλάβητε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Know yeεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• they whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• runτρέχωtrechō · to runG5143
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• a raceστάδιοςstadion · stadiumG4712
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• butδέde · thenG1161
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• receivethλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• the prizeβραβεῖονbrabeion · prizeG1017
• Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye may obtainκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:24

• Hosea 12:10I sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables.”
• Psalms 19:5It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.
• Jeremiah 12:5“If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?
• 1 Corinthians 9:26So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
• Galatians 2:2I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing.
• Galatians 5:7You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?
• Philippians 2:16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
• Philippians 3:14I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
• Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
• James 1:12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
• Revelation 3:11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24They which run in a race run all - It is sufficiently evident that the apostle alludes to the athletic exercises in the games which were celebrated every fifth year on the isthmus, or narrow neck of land, which joins the Peloponnesus, or Morea, to the main land; and were thence termed the Isthmian games. The exercises were running, wrestling, boxing, throwing the discus or quoit, etc.; to the three first of these the apostle especially alludes. But one…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Know ye not … - In the remainder of this chapter, Paul illustrates the general sentiment on which he had been dwelling - the duty of practicing self-denial for the salvation of others - by a reference to the well known games which were celebrated near Corinth. Throughout the chapter, his object had been to show that in declining to receive a support for preaching, he had done it, not because he was conscious that he had no claim to it, but because by…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. 2424. Know ye not--The Isthmian games, in which the foot race was a leading one, were of course well known, and a subject of patriotic pride to the Corinthians, who lived in the immediate neighborhood. These periodical games were to the Greeks rather a passion than a mere amusement: hence their suitableness as an image of Christian earnestness. in a race--Greek, "in a race course." all ... one--Although we knew that one alone could be saved, still it Would…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:24

• Games
• Prize
• Race
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Ephesus
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Burden
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Games
• Mystery

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