1 Corinthians 9:26
in 1 Corinthians 9Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
KJV
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 9
Commentary
14 notes on this verseI therefore so run, not as uncertainly - In the foot-course in those games, how many soever ran, only one could have the prize, however strenuously they might exert themselves; therefore, all ran uncertainly; but it was widely different in the Christian course, if every one ran as he ought, each would receive the prize. The word αδηλως, which we translate uncertainly, has other meanings.
This site's exposition
Therefore I do not run
on 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Behind I discipline my body stands hypopiazo, to strike under the eye, the boxer's own term turned on himself. Disqualified is adokimos, used of metal that fails the assayer's test.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
As a wrestler therefore he enters the lists last of all; he raises his eyes to heaven, he sees that even the heavenly creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. He sees that the whole creation groaneth in pain together, waiting for redemption. He sees that labour awaits us all. He raises his eyes, he sees the circlets of lights, he surveys the orbs of the moon and stars: For the just, who overcome, shall be as the stars in heaven. And he chastises his body, that it may not be his enemy in the combat, he anoints it with the oil of mercy, he exercises it with daily trials of virtue, he smears himself with dust, he runs to the goal of the course but not as uncertainly, he aims his blows, he darts forth his arms, but not into empty space. Thus the earth is man's trial-ground, heaven is his crown.
Paul means that he fights not merely with his words but with his deeds.
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 428.
proposed
The "air" here refers to the powers of evil.
So run in this world as to obtain in the next.
"I therefore so run, as not uncertainly." Thus having shamed them from those that are without, he next brings forward himself also, which kind of thing is a most excellent method of teaching: and accordingly we find him every where doing so. But what is, "not uncertainly?" "Looking to some mark," saith he, "not at random and in vain, as ye do. For what profit have ye of entering into idol-temples, and exhibiting for-sooth that perfectness? None. But not such am I, but all things whatsoever I do, I do for the salvation of my neighbor. Whether I show forth perfectness, it is for their sake; or condescension, for their sake again: whether I surpass Peter in declining to receive [compensation], it is that they may not be offended; or descend lower than all, being circumcised and shaving my head, it is that they may not be subverted. This is, "not uncertainly." But thou, why dost thou eat in idol-temples, tell me? Nay, thou canst not assign any reasonable cause. For "meat commendeth thee not to God; neither if thou eat art thou the better, nor if thou eat not art thou the worse." Plainly then thou runnest at random: for this is, "uncertainly." "So fight I, as not beating the air." This he saith, again intimating that he acted not at random nor in vain. "For I have one at whom I may strike, i.e., the devil. But thou dost not strike him, but simply throwest away thy strength." Now so far then, altogether bearing with them, he thus speaks. For since he had dealt somewhat vehemently with them in the preceding part, he now on the contrary keeps back his rebuke, reserving for the end of the discourse the deep wound of all. […]
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
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? …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
I run straight toward it. I cast away every weight, regard not any that stand by. I fight not as one that beateth the air - This is a proverbial expression for a man's missing his blow, and spending his strength, not on his enemy, but on empty air.
There is no room for any such exercise in the Christian warfare. Christians are ever in close combat. There enemies make fierce and hearty opposition, and are ever at hand; and for this reason they must lay about them in earnest, and never drop the contest, nor flag and faint in it.
And shall not Christians be much more exact and vigorous when all are sure of a crown when they come to the end of their race? He sets before himself and them the danger of yielding to fleshly inclinations, and pampering the body and its lusts and appetites: I keep my body under, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
I therefore so run,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Ye Corinthians gain no end in your entering idol temples or eating idol meats. But I, for my part, in all my acts, whether in my becoming "all things to all men," or in receiving no sustenance from my converts, have a definite end in view, namely, to "gain the more." I know what 1 aim at, and how to aim at it.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I therefore so run - In the Christian race; in my effort to obtain the prize, the crown of immortality. I exert myself to the utmost, that I may not fail of securing the crown. Not as uncertainly - (οὐκ ἀδήλως ouk adēlōs). This word occurs no where else in the New Testament. It usually means, in the Classic writers, “obscurely.” Here it means that he did not run as not knowing to what object he aimed. “I do not run haphazardly; I do not exert myself for nothing; I know at what I aim, and I keep my eye fixed on the object; I have the goal and the crown in view.” Probably also the apostle intended to convey this idea, “I so live and act that I am “sure” of obtaining the crown. I make it a great and grand point of my life so to live that there may be no room for doubt or hesitancy about this rustler. I believe it may be obtained; and that by a proper course there may he a constant certainty of securing it; and I so live.” O how happy and blessed would it be if all Christians thus lived! How much doubt, and hesitancy, and despondency would it remove from many a Christian’s mind! And yet it is morally certain that if ever Christian were to be only as anxious and careful as were the ancient Grecian wrestlers and racers in the games, they would have the undoubted assurance of gaining the prize. Doddridge and Macknight, however, render this “as not out of view;” or as not distinguished; meaning that the apostle was not “unseen,” but that he regarded himself as constantly in the view of the judge, the Lord Jesus Christ. I prefer the other interpretation, however, as best according with the connection and with the proper meaning of the word. So fight I - οὗτω πυκτεύω houtō pukteuō. This word is applied to the “boxers,” or the pugilists, in the Grecian games. […]
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| τοίνυν | toinun | therefore | G5106 → | |
| οὕτως | houtos | thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| τρέχω | trecho | run | G5143 → | 20 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἀδήλως, | adelos | uncertainly, | G84 → | |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| πυκτεύω | pukteuo | I fight | G4438 → | |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἀέρα | aera | [the] air | G109 → | |
| δέρων· | deron | beating; | G1194 → |
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
τοίνυνtherefore
toinunG5106 →
οὕτωςthus
houtosG3779 →208 times
τρέχωrun
trechoG5143 →20 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἀδήλως,uncertainly,
adelosG84 →
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
πυκτεύωI fight
pukteuoG4438 →
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἀέρα[the] air
aeraG109 →
δέρων·beating;
deronG1194 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 1:21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
it leads to
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
- 2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
- Philippians 1:23
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
- 2 Corinthians 5:6
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
- Galatians 2:20
Through
2 Timothy 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
it leads to
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- Jude 1:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Letter 49, 5-6; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Against the Pelagians 1; John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 23; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodore of Mopsuestia, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.