New Living Translation
1 Corinthians 9:27
27I 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.
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
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. 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.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 91 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 9:25All 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.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
- 1 Corinthians 8:13So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
- Romans 8:13For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
- 2 Corinthians 11:27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
- Colossians 3:5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
- 2 Timothy 2:22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
- 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
- Romans 6:18Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- Psalms 50:16But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
- Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
- Luke 12:45But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?
- Luke 13:26Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, 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
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries