In 1 Corinthians 9:24, how many runners receive the prize?
According to 1 Corinthians 9:24, all runners run in the race, but only one receives the prize. Paul uses this athletic analogy to show that believers should run the race to obtain reward, not salvation, which is already attained by faith.
Les explains that most of Christendom wrongly believes you must work to attain salvation, but the Bible says you work not at all for salvation—it is all of grace by faith plus nothing. Once a person has entered into that salvation experience, however, God expects believers to work for reward, to enhance His work and Kingdom and bring honor and glory to His Name. Paul often uses common analogies, and here in 1 Corinthians 9:24 he uses the Olympics and a foot race. He writes that all run in the race, but only one receives the prize—the winner. Les applies this to believers as workers in the building process: run that you may obtain reward, not salvation, which you already attained by faith.
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
More Questions
In 1 Corinthians 9:24, is the prize believers run for salvation?
The prize Paul tells believers to run for in 1 Corinthians 9:24 is not salvation but the prize (a reward), since salvation is not something obtained by running.
What race does Paul describe in 1 Corinthians 9:24 and what is the prize?
In a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize, so believers should run in a way that obtains not salvation but the prize.