1 Cor. 9:23. And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be a partaker thereof.
He calls the believers "the gospel," who are saved through the gospel, as he also said above: "to live of the gospel," that is, from the believers. I act this way, he says, so that together with the believers I might be a partaker in the crowns. He says this not as though he did it for the sake of a reward, but in order to persuade them to do everything for the brethren in the hope of receiving heavenly goods. Notice the humility of the apostle. Though worthy of the first place, he places himself on the same level as the believers in general in the sharing of blessings.
1 Cor. 9:24. Do you not know that those who run in a racecourse all run, but one receives the prize?
Having proved that one must be condescending toward the brethren, he now addresses them with a more stern discourse. His words have the following meaning. Do not think that for your salvation it is already enough that you believed and entered upon the arena of the Church. No, this is not enough; just as for those running in a racecourse it is not enough simply to run, but one must also run blamelessly, and moreover all the way to the finish. And only he who has run in this way will receive the prize. But you are in danger of not receiving it; because, knowing more than others, you disregard the brethren and partake of food offered to idols.
1 Cor. 9:24. So run, that you may obtain. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.
You, he says, must run so as to obtain. And this does not happen without love, which you do not have. Although you consider yourselves perfect, you do so unjustly; for you have not yet attained this. Hinting at the fact that they had many shortcomings, for among them gluttony, fornication, and drunkenness were prevalent, he says: "every athlete exercises self-control in all things," not from this or that, but from all things they abstain. Therefore, admit that you are still far from perfect, and understand that the obtaining of the prize is conditioned upon self-control.
1 Cor. 9:25. They do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.
They already stand convicted. They practice self-control to receive a perishable crown: and we do not do this even for an imperishable crown?
1 Cor. 9:26. And therefore I so run, not as uncertainly.
What does "as uncertainly" mean? That I do everything with purpose—when I cut off, when I trim—and I do nothing without thought and without purpose, as you do. For what purpose is there in eating food offered to idols, when others perish because of it? Absolutely none. Therefore, doing this without a reasonable basis, you run uncertainly, and without purpose and in vain. As an excellent teacher, the apostle directly puts himself forward as an example.
1 Cor. 9:26. I fight not as one who merely beats the air.
I have someone to strike, namely the devil. But you do not strike him; rather, you use the perfection of knowledge for vanity.
1 Cor. 9:27. But I discipline and enslave my body.
Here he points out that they are given over to gluttony and excuse it under the pretext of perfection. But I, he says, endure every labor in order to live chastely. For "I discipline" (ὑποπιέζω — I strike under the eyes) means: I fight with the body. The word ὑπώποι refers to the bruises under the eyes that come from beatings. Thus, the apostle wants to show that the struggle with nature is a feat of great labor. For the body, he says, is very self-willed and strong in resistance. And since he said "I discipline" and mentioned bruises, he immediately added: "and bring it into subjection," so that you would know that the body must not be destroyed, but, like a willful slave, tamed and subjected, which is proper to a master, not an enemy. Some think that ὑποπιέζω is used in a narrower sense, meaning: I exhaust with hunger. But this opinion is incorrect; for then the word ὑποπιάζω would have to stand.
1 Cor. 9:27. Lest, having preached to others, I myself should remain unworthy.
And through this he rouses them to greater sobriety. For if for me, he says, it is not sufficient for salvation to preach and teach, but I must also present myself blameless in all things: how then can you be saved by faith alone, when you serve so many passions?