What is the prize Paul tells believers to run for in 1 Corinthians 9:24?
Paul writes that believers are to run the race to obtain the prize, clarifying this is not salvation but reward. In contrast to the Olympic athlete's corruptible crown of leaves that dries up, believers run for an incorruptible crown, one that will never end.
Les teaches that in 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul is writing again to Gentile believers and uses the Olympic athlete as his illustration. The athlete trains and trains, but does so with temperateness and common sense, not destroying his body with overtraining or coming to the race flabby and unprepared. Paul tells us the same thing: run so as to obtain, not salvation, but the prize. The athletes did it to obtain a corruptible crown, merely a wreath of leaves that dried up and became good for nothing. But believers who are running a race are running for reward and are looking for an incorruptible crown, one that will never end.
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
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.
Is 1 Corinthians 9:24 saying we run to earn our salvation?
Paul is not telling the Corinthians to run in order to gain salvation but to gain reward, because he has addressed these carnal Corinthians all along since chapter 1 as believers and brethren.