1 CORINTHIANS 9:25 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. — The athlete's training (egkrateuetai) is strict, punishing. Their reward is stephanos phthartēs (perishable crown), while Christians pursue an aphthartos (imperishable) crown. The contrast motivates: eternal reward surpasses temporal recognition. The training necessary for earthly achievement is minimal compared to spiritual discipline.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 9:25
“And every man that strives in the games is temperate in all things.” What is, “all things?” He does not abstain from one and err in another, but he masters entirely gluttony and lasciviousness and drunkenness and all his passions. “For this,” says he, “takes place even in the heathen games. For neither is excess of wine permitted to those who contend at the time of the contest, nor wantonness, lest they should weaken their vigor, nor yet so much as to be busied about…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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