The Apostle Paul uses the illustration of an athlete’s training to illustrate the lifestyle of a faithful Christian.

Several Bible commentaries make reference to the Isthmain games, named because they took place in the isthmus where Corinth stood. For example, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers: “These, like the other games of Greece—the Olympian, Pythian, and Nemean—included every form of athletic exercise, and stood on an entirely different footing from anything of the kind in modern times. For the Greek, these contests were great national and religious festivals.”

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a say that you man win.” The Christian’s competitor is his own fleshly human tendencies which are “at war” or in competition with our spiritual life and growth.

1 Peter 2:11: “Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and exiles to keep on abstaining from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.”

As runners exercise great care in their diet and in all of life’s affairs, and bend every energy to their racing, so the Christian should make business, pleasure, food and clothing all to bend to the central all-absorbing ambition of his new life, his Christian career. This means taking up of the cross to follow Jesus; a zeal for him, for his truth, his Word, his brethren, for the cause he represents. 

“Only one receives the prize”—either the flesh or the power of the holy spirit at work within the Christians life will gain the victory. Galatians 6:7-8: “…whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit shall from the spirit reap eternal life.

The “prize” is the heavenly reward promised to the faithful Christian overcomer.

Run in such a way that you may win.” Philippians 4:13-14: “…This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

1 Corinthians 9:25: “And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”  

The contestant who wants to experience victory exercises self-control in all things is an illustration of the exercise of self-control, discipline and self-restraint in true followers of Christ. This is the “mental” side of the game.

The reward is “imperishable,” or incorruptible (See Romans 2:7).

2 Timothy 2:5: “…If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.” This means according to the will and principles of God.

Revelation 3:10: “…be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”

Romans 8:17: “…and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.”

Now the physical side of the game:  1 Corinthians 9:26-27: “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”  

Paul ends this illustration emphasizing that a committed Christian will use their energy in a spiritually effective way, with the end result of bringing the flesh under the control of the spirit.

Again, Galatians 6:7-8: “…whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit shall from the spirit reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:9-10: “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

We “run” like someone who has purpose and determination to win the race.

“Beating the air” – in preparation for a certain contest, the contestants had a wind bag to practice on. So the Apostle Paul says that he was not using his strength merely in practice. He was fighting a real battle.

Keeping his body under subjection means controlling the old, selfish ways of the flesh (its ambitions, appetites and desires); keeping it in subordination to the new mind in Christ.

Paul said this after having sacrificed much, after having experienced many sufferings in Christ.

Paul walks us through the discipleship process of transformation in a simple way: Philippians 4:4-9: (NASB) “4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1198: “Am I Passionate or Complacent About Jesus?”
Understanding passion’s role and complacency’s danger in Christianity
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