Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 9].
self-discipline (2Co 12:7; Ro 8:13; Col 2:23; 3:5). {And bring
it into bondage} (\kai doulag•g•\). Late compound verb from
\doulag•gos\, in Diodorus Siculus, Epictetus and substantive in
papyri. It is the metaphor of the victor leading the vanquished
as captive and slave. {Lest by any means} (\m• p•s\). Common
conjunction for negative purpose with subjunctive as here
(\gen•mai\, second aorist middle). {After that I have preached to
others} (\allois k•r–xas\). First aorist active participle of
\k•russ•\ (see on ¯1:23), common verb to preach, from word
\k•rux\ (herald) and that is probably the idea here. A \k•rux\ at
the games announced the rules of the game and called out the
competitors. So Paul is not merely a herald, but a competitor
also. {I myself should be rejected} (\autos adokimos gen•mai\).
Literally, "I myself should become rejected." \Adokimos\ is an
old adjective used of metals, coin, soil (Heb 6:8) and in a
moral sense only by Paul in N.T. (1Co 9:27; 2Co 13:5-7; Ro 1:28;
Tit 1:16; 2Ti 3:8). It means not standing the test (\dokimos\
from \dokimaz•\). Paul means rejected for the {prize}, not for
the entrance to the race. He will fail to win if he breaks the
rules of the game (Mt 7:22f.). What is the prize before Paul?
Is it that {reward} (\misthos\) of which he spoke in verse 18,
his glorying of preaching a free gospel? So Edwards argues. Most
writers take Paul to refer to the possibility of his rejection in
his personal salvation at the end of the race. He does not claim
absolute perfection (Php 3:12) and so he presses on. At the end
he has serene confidence (2Ti 4:7) with the race run and won.
It is a humbling thought for us all to see this wholesome fear
instead of smug complacency in this greatest of all heralds of
Christ.
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(1 Corinthians: Chapter 9)