Spiritual discipline prepares the believer to run the spiritual race with purpose, to win the prize — an incorruptible crown of reward, not salvation.
Les Feldick explains that Paul draws the discipline of the believer from the training of Olympic athletes, who controlled their bodies and were temperate in all things in order to win a wreath. The believer who has already been saved by faith then trains with the same discipline to obtain an incorruptible, eternal reward. Discipline also includes God's own chastening of a believer who turns to sin, designed to restore honor to His name rather than to forfeit salvation.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 — Paul directly states that believers are to run the race to obtain the prize, and that this disciplined running requires temperance because the crown is incorruptible.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24, Paul tells the believer, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." The Scripture's stated purpose for running is to obtain — to win the prize that the race offers. Verse 25 connects this effort to discipline: "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." The biblical text shows that disciplined self-control (temperance) in all things is how the race is run, and the goal is an incorruptible crown.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul repeatedly uses the Olympic Games — and at Corinth, the Isthmian Games — to picture the life of a believer. No athlete enters a race expecting to lose; he runs to win, and that winning mentality is what Paul calls believers to have. Les emphasizes that this spiritual race is not about gaining salvation, because Paul addresses the Corinthians as believers and brethren; rather, it is about gaining reward (Clip 0, Clip 4). The training for that race is discipline: controlling the body and being 'temperate in all things,' which Les defines as maintaining a balance in every area of life rather than going to extremes (Clip 2, Clip 3). Les also highlights the prize. Athletes in Paul's day did all their training for a corruptible crown — a wreath of plant leaves that shriveled and was good for nothing. The believer runs for an incorruptible crown, a reward that will be enjoyed for all eternity (Clip 1, Clip 5). Les further teaches that the originator of all discipline is God Himself, who chastens the believer who starts dabbling in sin. If chastening does not bring the believer around, God may take him out — the sin unto death — not losing the believer's salvation, but keeping His name from being reproached (Clip 6, Clip 7).
No. Les Feldick stresses that Paul has been calling the Corinthians 'believers' and 'brethren' since chapter one, so the race is not about getting saved. The prize they run for is reward. Scripture itself says, 'So run, that ye may obtain' — and what believers obtain is a reward, not salvation, which they have already received by faith.
Les defines temperance as maintaining a balance — not going clear off to the right or clear off to the left. He uses the athlete preparing for the foot race: he doesn't become a glutton to build energy, and he doesn't starve himself or work himself to death. The believer likewise maintains balance in everything in the Christian experience, disciplining like a parent who neither over-disciplines nor under-disciplines.
In Paul's day the winner received only a wreath made of plant leaves, which would be shriveled and worthless by the time the athlete got home. Les says the believer is not running for a corruptible crown like that, but for an incorruptible one. Those rewards are laid up, waiting to be enjoyed for all eternity, and that prospect is what drives the believer to live a fruitful life.
Les Feldick teaches that God is the originator of discipline. He does not chasten the unbeliever, but He will chasten the believer who starts dabbling in sin. If the chastening does not wake the believer up, God may take him out — what Paul calls the sin unto death. Les is careful to say this does not mean the believer was lost; rather, God removes him so that his behavior no longer brings reproach to His name.
Running to Gain Reward, Not Salvation
Les shows that Paul's Olympic race analogy concerns believers running to gain reward, since the Corinthians are already believers and brethren — not running to gain salvation.
Training for an Incorruptible Crown
Les explains that athletes controlled and trained their bodies for a wreath that would shrivel, while believers are to gear up and work for an incorruptible crown of reward.
Temperance Means Maintaining Balance
Les teaches that 'striveth for the mastery' requires being temperate in all things — maintaining a balance rather than going to an extreme on either side.
Balanced Training in the Christian Life
Les shows that race preparation required balanced habits — not gluttony and not starvation — and the believer likewise maintains balance in everything.
Run That You May Obtain the Prize
Les explains Paul's point that all run but only one receives the prize, so believers are to run to obtain reward — not salvation, which faith has already attained.
Eternal Rewards Drive the Believer
Les teaches that the reward laid up for eternity is what should drive the believer to work and serve, just as Olympic athletes trained to win.
God's Discipline of the Wayward Believer
Les teaches that God starts with discipline and, if a believer refuses to honor God, may take him out — not losing his salvation but ending reproach to God's name.
Chastening and the Sin Unto Death
Les teaches that God chastens the believer who dabbles in sin, and if the chastening does not wake him up, God may take him out — the sin unto death that Paul teaches.
1 Corinthians 9:24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Paul's direct statement that the purpose of the believer's running is to obtain the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:25: 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.
Scripture states that the disciplined runner is temperate in all things because the believer's goal is an incorruptible crown.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul is addressing believers when he gives the race analogy. Salvation is received by faith, and the race is run to obtain reward, not to gain or keep salvation.
It means maintaining a balance in every area of life — not going to an extreme on either side. Les compares it to athletes who neither gorge themselves nor starve themselves in training.
The prize is an incorruptible crown — an eternal reward laid up for believers. This is different from the perishable wreath given to winning athletes in Paul's day.
Yes. God chastens the believer who starts dabbling in sin. If chastening does not bring the believer back, God may take him out — the sin unto death — which is not losing salvation but preventing reproach to His name.
Watch the Teaching: What Does It Mean to Be "All Things to All Men"? — 1 Corinthians 9