Scripture Text (NRSV)
9:24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only
one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.
9:25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to
receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.
9:26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the
air;
9:27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to
others I myself should not be disqualified.
Comments:
Boy, what a different face of Paul we see here: coach Paul. I guess I
remember this passage (from seminary) as being one example of how
influential Stoic philosophy has been on Christian theology.
This would be a great text for preaching a youth sermon.
I don't understand how that is Stoic, could you please explain?
RevRon
Stoic? Yes, Please elobrate. DWR
Do you mean the influence of the Greek (Hellenic) athletic culture?
Don't get the "Stoic philosophical" connection here. Enlighten me.
I'm feeling called to preach on this reading this week, but I'm having
touble getting past verse 27: "I punish my body and enslave it."
Self-punishment is not the same as the self-disicpline Paul lauds in
athletes. Self-punishment is, as far as I'm concerned, a sin against
the body that God has given me to use to God's greater glory.
I read something once about the faith journey as a marathon when we
live in a culture of sprinters.
Heather
I think, Heather, Paul speaks figuratively, as an athelete pushes
his/her body to extreme (even painful) lengths to get the maximum
performance. I think of Marathoners who "hit the wall", having burned
all their stored fat and begin to burn muscle to feed the body energy
to go on and "finish the race" as Paul determined to do. It is painful
and even detrimental to the body in the short run, but in the long
run, both body and spirit are restored. This is not about
self-loathing or self-hatred, but about self-denial for a greater
good. I think. I tend to be lazy, myself, which is why I have trouble
with this passage! tom in TN(USA)
I like running. Unfortunately, my knees don't. I still help with
coaching at the local high school. The great aspect about cross
country, track, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, and other individual
sports is that when you compete you accomplish. The goal may be a
specific time or score not to be first place.
Christian life is a marathon. We train and improve, by the grace of
God, each day. We win by being part of the team, working together for
the common good. Sounds like Paul's Corinthian community, all part of
one body.
Typical students want to be first. They want the glory. Some times the
team wins even when one athlete does not do their best. Teams can will
without the first place finisher in a race. I've worked with young
people who don't want to compete because they will not be varsity.
Along the way during the season they could have made it because of
improvement, injury, or illness. But they were on the sidelines
watching the race go by without them. It is a waste!
God calls us to run with a purpose, to improve, to help others, to get
in shape, to reach the finish line. Together, we complete the race of
life with salvation or not. Are we willing to run this race? Are we
willing to run with our congregations? Are we willing to run until the
very end of life?
Bruce in WI
Bruce in WI Are you sure the Christian life is a marathon? Ken
Callahan says that for some it is a series of short intense sprints.
Either way it requires training and endurance. Elwood in WI
Elwood and Bruce, interesting question about marathon vs sprinting.
That's exactly the issue we struggle with--the tortoise and the hare
story. The lesson, then, is to train to run the whole race. To learn
to pace ourselves so we'll be able to last.
Clarence in Iowa
Yes, the Christian journey is a marathon ... but even the most
dedicated, skilled "marathoner" will only "race" the distance a
limited number of times ... the training process is one that requires
discipline and self-control throughout one's life. One pushes the
limits of his/her conditioned body to the point where the body is able
to exceed previous "limits". Always stiving - pushing the limits of
muscles,ligament, heart and aerobic capacities.
Even as a marathoner in training must have a well-tuned body ... so
the Christian must be well-disciplined for all of the testings that
will occur during the "race".
One of my favourite companion texts to the lectionary reading is that
found in Hebrews 12:1,2 where the biblical illustrations clearly urge
us towards self-examination and discipline. Also very relevant to this
discussion ... the author of Hebrews reminds the reader that there has
been a "customized course" marked out for each of us ... uniquely
designed by the Providence of the Almighty. In a way, that is
comforting ... it also keeps this runner from always looking over his
shoulder at "the other guy / gal" ... There are so many ways and in so
many areas where I would like to improve as a "marathoner" ... but ...
somehow I see the parallel within the training and discipling of the
Christian's journey.
I am hearing a call to training for disciples. As apprentices of Jesus
we are constantly to be learning by listening, watching, reading,
praying and doing.People who train for sports now do it all do it
throughout the year. Formerly major league baseball players came to
spring training in February or March and began to get in shape. Now
athletes have really specific and intense training, but they do it
according to the best plan that trainers have laid out for them. The
plan includes weight training that is appropriate for their sport and
their own position in that sport. Through updated Christian
disciplines we have many training plans too. I am hearing something
about doing it and making it available to other people.
The whole question of Marathon vs Sprint is interesting, but in the
context of the previous verses where Paul becomes a "slave even though
he is free, .. a Jew to win Jews etc." It is more a contast between a
Marathon and a Triathlon - 3 different races in one. Always working
forward but with the various skills and training that meets the
numerous challenges in "Lifes Triathlon" We have to work hard to be
"on message" to the people we come into contact with. "To become all
things to all people" - so that some might be saved. Christian
discipleship is not a specialised discipline but a combination of
them. DR in England
We will celebrate Boy Scout Sunday this week and I plan to preach on
"What does God expect of Me?" Both Paul and BSA seem to answer: Do
your best. FredJ in NC
Regarding the question of someone's comment of the Stoic character of
the passage....it is a stretch, but perhaps they meant an indifference
to pain. (or pleasure). Dangerous ground on which to tread.
Does anyone have any comment on the passage as being about
self-controlled freedom under grace? It seems that the metaphor can be
seen as saying-practicing our faith is a necessity if we are to attain
"self-control in all things" v. 25.
How can we avoid making this an argument for works righteousness?
Dwight in WV
Regarding the question of someone's comment of the Stoic character of
the passage....it is a stretch, but perhaps they meant an indifference
to pain. (or pleasure). Dangerous ground on which to tread.
Does anyone have any comment on the passage as being about
self-controlled freedom under grace? It seems that the metaphor can be
seen as saying-practicing our faith is a necessity if we are to attain
"self-control in all things" v. 25.
How can we avoid making this an argument for works righteousness?
Dwight in WV
I hope you don't mind my saying, but a race is a race. The distance
doesn't matter. To a marathon runner the start is the first half mile.
To a dash runner the start is the first ten yards. Every race has a
beginning a middle and an end. The distance is unimportant in the
text. We seem to be getting caught up in our own visiualization of a
race. I need to come at it from both distance and dash so that the
people can come to the text in their own terms. Some people are living
a dash some people are living a marathon.
When I played rugby I discovered a wonderful proof. The game is not
won on Saturday. The game is only played on Saturday. The game is won
on Sunday through Friday in your discipline and training. When I
disciplined and trained well all week, my participation in the game
was no longer a responsiblity to be endured but a reward.
Ran in DFW
What about the training of an athelete. In order to be the best to
really compete they have to live the life of hard training and diet.
They can't just train an hour a week. Just as us chrtistians we can't
just worshop our God on Sundays and hope to be the diciple of Jesus
Christ. Just like the athlete we have to dedicate our whole week to
Christ. Get off the bench out of the Pew be a winner for God and
yourself. To many people are just like the sportsfan we need to get
out of the bleachers and onto the playing fields, instead of sitting
on the premises we need to stand on the promises of Jesus Christ.
JC-NY GOD'S OEACE
"Only one may win a prize." That is the traditional view of sports.
However, there are new games, such as "earth ball," where no one is
the "winner." The idea is to keep the earth up in the air as long as
possible. This requires cooperation and willingness to hand over the
responsibility to others.
Seems like a good idea for a sermon here. One can be a famous
televangelist with a crowd of support crew behind the scenes to make
the preacher look good, or you can all be working together.
Jay in Alabama (where sports, particularly college football, is a
serious religion)
The part of this passage that intrigues me is the idea that Paul has
to bring his human nature under control so that after proclaiming the
gospel to others, he doesn't blow it for himself. I don't think that
this means lose his own salvation. I think it means that he can
nullify his witness by his actions. If he doesn't act in harmony with
his proclamation and message, then he disqualifies himself as a
messanger of good news. How many times do our actions undermine the
words we have just spoken?!
God, I sincerely hope that the Christian life is not a marathon. As
the Hebrew says in Genesis, God promises to walk with Abraham, not
run. Sue in Cuba, KS
