teaching notes : 1 cor. 9:24

prologue (again) : passages that will stir us to argue

v27 : "lest...i myself should be disqualified"

disqualified from what?

- ministry
- receiving his reward (a la moses in numbers 20)
- receiving his salvation (not that he will, but that he must endure [and he will])

jeff leans strongly towards reward and i think there are good reasons for the argument as well.
either way, the point should be taken that a failure to 'discipline' will result in a negative result which we should fear.

I. read passage
II. summarize

a. the basic point : 'run in such a way that you may win'
b. problems with interpreting the metaphor...

the prize doesn't seem to indicate that only one of us is going to win.
it's not the competition that is emphasized here so much as the exhertion.
people historically have had trouble with that though; e.g. origen says that the one who receives the prize is the church...

1. understanding the illustration

1. about the isthmian games

v.24 - "those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize"
v.25 - "everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control. they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable"

4 major games

olympic, isthmean, nemean, delphi

details

the games were operating on a pan-hellenic basis from about 480 bc; after the destruction of corinth in 146, the games were moved, but after corinth was rebuilt in 44bc they soon recovered control.
the games were a big deal, and were featured on the coins of corinth.
vital to our understanding is the fact that they happened in the same place every time (every two years). so the parallel might be better if you imagine combining the olympics with the local ferver of ut football.
humorous note : in 66/67, nero competed in the games with a composition of his own (they had added song to the competition)...and won.
www.ioa.leeds.ac.uk/.../70094.htm

2. about running and exertion

running vs. jogging

paul's illustration here is one based on exhertion.
this does not share a whole lot in common with jogging; you have to think of the pain and exhertion of running (esp competitively).
the difference involved is in how hard you push yourself.

a race; mental aspects, mental dominance (over self and over others)

race vs training; in a race, you give everything to win.
champion marathoners

nike training (only run; no other movement)
one prize is the goal; one 'hard' race per year

paul very carefully uses the picture of an athlete who exherts himself to win as a parallel to how we should live

2. understanding the goal

1. the illustration is too weak as human rewards aren't significant

"they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable"
pine or celery wreath was the prize in corinth; we seek pursue the desires and the favor of god.

where does value come from?

value comes from personal pleasure (a good meal, a nice memory) or from agreement (people will give you stuff for your money)
understanding that should make you realize how silly your value system is.
ultimately, the only true value possible is based on god's determination.
pursuing what god values is the only valuable pursuit

2. what are we pursuing? rewards?

a. rewards aren't defined too specifically in the bible. (it may just be the favor of god; who knows)
b. paul spoke of them in chapter 3:14

If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

c. whatever they are, they are worth wanting.

3. living the race

1. discipline, self-control, and exhertion

a. v25 "self control in all things"
b. v27 "i discipline my body, and make it my slave"

discipline is often translated 'buffet'; it implies a whipping into shape.
not the process of 'fun' but a process of necessary pain.
perhaps some of us are mislead by such evangelism strategies as 'god loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life'?

1. god does love you.
2. god does have a wonderful plan for you.
3. gods plan involves complete sacrifice, and may involve you being stoned, starved, or slaughtered.

c. "run in such a way that you may win"
c. areas of self-control, discipline :

contextual

'holding back for the sake of others' in 8
'all things for the gospel' in 9
'idolatry / temple participation' in 10
immorality in 6, unity in 1-4...

extrapolated

reducing liberty for each other :

marriage? can you keep your attitude loving and ignore your wants?
friendship? honestly, the chances are that we don't even start to build friendships out of concern and desire for the other party.

our character : disciplined

we are a soft and slack people who do not live with purpose;
our pursuit should be constant and complete
a. bible study; the study of scripture
b. self-denial; the living of scripture

2. pursue the prize

v25 "the imperishable wreath"
that which god gives value to is what has value; 'nothing else matters'

conclusion : our purpose "so that i might win the more"

what our personna is

1. v19 slaves to all men
2. v24 runners in a race
"i have become all things to all men, that i may by all means save some"

- not just the ones you think are cool, fun, or nice (no pearls before swine either)
- guess who the burden is on? you.

what our purpose is

v19 "that i might win the more"
Note : this is the curse and blessing of christianity

not empty fun
a hard and fulfilling existence

what our prize is

v25 imperishable