1 Corinthians 9:27

1 Corinthians 9:27

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.

a. NLT: 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. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. 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. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. YLT: but I chastise my body, and bring it into servitude, lest by any means, having preached to others -- I myself may become disapproved. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible: But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…”

a. But [Strong: 235. alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. [I] keep under [Strong: 5299. hupopiazo hoop-o-pee-ad'-zo from a compound of 5259 and a derivative of 3700; to hit under the eye (buffet or disable an antagonist as a pugilist), i.e. (figuratively) to tease or annoy (into compliance), subdue (one's passions):--keep under, weary.] [Zodhiates: to strike under the eye, beat the face black and blue, give a black eye. In the NT generally means to subject the body with hardship.] 

c. my [Strong: 3450. mou moo the simpler form of 1700; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.] 

d. body [Strong: 4983. soma so'-mah from 4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively:--bodily, body, slave.]

e. and [Strong: 2532. kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. bring it into subjection [Strong: 1396. doulagogeo doo-lag-ogue-eh'-o from a presumed compound of 1401 and 71; to be a slave-driver, i.e. to enslave (figuratively, subdue):--bring into subjection.] [doulagogeo; doulos-in bondage; ago-to bring]

1). Rick Renner 10/31/16: The word “subjection” is the word doulagogeo, a compound of the word doulos and ago. The word doulos is the word for a slave, and the word ago is the Greek word that means to lead. This means that Paul mastered his body and flesh rather than allowing his body and flesh to master him. He knew that many believers allow themselves to be led about by their fleshly desires. But Paul was determined that he would be the master of his own flesh. He was going to keep it in “subjection.” In other words, he was going to lead his flesh about as his slave rather than be its slave and pander to its carnal desires.

2). The Greek word Paul used for “subjection” is a compound word, the first half, “doulos” of course means slave. Doulos is the same word Paul used in Romans 6:16.

a). Romans 6:16 Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness?

2). We as Christians have the covenantal responsibility to bring our flesh under subjection, i.e., through the power of the Holy Ghost, to make or force our bodies to be obedient to the word of God. This process of course involves our responsibilities of prayer and study of the word, without which, this process is just a futile attempt of physical discipline.

a). Romans 12:1 I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

b). 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

c). Others that could be written out are more than a few, but I will at least list some of them. Romans 6:13, Romans 6:16-18.

2. “…lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

a. lest that by any means [Strong: 3381. mepos may'-pos or me pos may poce from 3361 and 4458; lest somehow:--lest (by any means, by some means, haply, perhaps).]  

b. when I have preached [Strong: 2784. kerusso kay-roos'-so of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):--preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.] 

c. [to] others [243. allos al'-los a primary word; "else," i.e. different (in many applications):--more, one (another), (an-, some an-)other(-s, -wise).] 

d. I myself [Strong: 846. autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.] 

e. [should] be [Strong: 1096. ginomai ghin'-om-ahee a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

f. [a] castaway [Strong: 96. adokimos ad-ok'-ee-mos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally):--castaway, rejected, reprobate.] [adokimos; a-without; dokimos-acceptable, approved.] [Zodhiates: Unapproved, unworthy, spurious, worthless.] 

1). Rick Renner 10/31/16: When the King James Version uses the word “castaway,” it is actually the Greek word adokimos, which comes from the word dokimos, an old Greek word that means approved. But when an a is added to the front of the word, making it the word adokimos, it reverses the condition, which means this is no longer an approved person. Now this person has become disapproved, discredited, or disqualified.

2). Amplified Bible: “…for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit—not stand the test and be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit.”

3). Paul clearly said that he would be rejected even if he preached the gospel but did not bring his flesh body under subjection. I believe that means he would not make it to heaven. I believe this is shown in not only his statement here but coupled with the examples from the Old Covenant he also gives in the next chapter. This same word is translated “reprobate” in Romans 1:28, Titus 1:16, and 2 Timothy 3:8. It is translated “rejected” in Hebrews 6:8. 

a). Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

b). Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

c). Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

d). 2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

4). In dealing with offenses between brothers and sisters within the body Jesus gave instruction regarding those offenses. When they were overwhelmed by them (Luke 17:1-4). They responded by asking him to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Then jesus said:  “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you” (Luke 17:6). 

a). Rick Renner 12/29/16 Jesus said that when you finally decide to deal with the wrong attitudes that have stalked and hounded your life for so long, you must order them to “...be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea...” (Luke 17:6).
The words “plucked up by the root” are from the Greek word ekridzoo, which is a compound of the words ek and ridzo. The word ek means out, and the word ridzo is the Greek word for a root, like the roots of a plant. When joined into one word, the compound word means to rip out by the roots. This is not a person who hopes the plant will be removed but does nothing to make it happen. Quite the contrary! This is the picture of a person who wraps his hands around the base of that plant, pulls with all his might, and rips the roots of that plant right out of the ground. He has made the determination that he is not going to stop until the ground he stands on is totally free from the roots of that nasty plant so that it will never produce life there again!...When you make that choice to rise up, speak to your emotions, and exert your authority in Jesus Christ, your flesh WILL obey your commands! If you don’t take authority over your flesh and emotions, they will continue to dominate and hound you. If you’ll stand up to your emotions and plant them in the sea forever, they will obey you!