Castaway: 1
Corinthians 9:27
“I myself should be a castaway” – WHAT!? There it is,
folks… you can lose your salvation! Forget about the many passages that
blatantly and clearly teach the exact opposite. Because we have found a
statement here that sounds really bad, we must fully embrace the fact that here
“castaway” could have just as easily been translated reprobate. Knowing that
means eternal punishment, we as enlightened students of the Bible cannot reject
such undeniable proof. NO! We as God’s children cannot be so easily misguided!
Here is the right mindset with which you and I should approach all Scripture:
“God is perfect and infinitely more wise than me or anyone; I am flawed,
fearful, and often fail. Hence, when I discover a passage that sounds alarming,
I will study to uncover the profound truth that is waiting for all those who
will seek after it; trusting the Holy Spirit to guide me.”
The word “castaway” is defined as reprobate; rejected;
worthless (disqualified). However, context is everything!
Allow me to present several questions that will permit
us to “Rightly divide the Word of Truth.”
Is the Gospel mentioned in this passage? YES.
Is it possible for one who has been redeemed by the
power of God through the shed blood of Jesus to be cast away? ______. Before
answering, I would have to ask: Who is doing the casting away? Let’s come back to that one. Do the
Scriptures teach adamantly and repeatedly that salvation is eternal? YES.
Can any man or institution undo what All Mighty God
has done? NO.
With some basic principles now being established,
let’s further examine that question: Who is doing the casting away?
Paul declares plainly for us his desire to do whatever
is necessary to win the lost to Christ. He shows how that he has approached
them on any common ground he could find to gain an inroad to lead them to
Christ or to share the Gospel with them. I believe, it would it be safe to say:
Paul is seeking the acceptance of his audience. He is recognizing the fact that
these people will likely judge his statements and his actions – past, present,
and future.
Paul now illustrates his points:
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize?”
The Christian life is the parallel. Sports analogies
are common in Paul’s inspired writings. This is a familiar idea, I believe, for
most everyone.
“So run, that ye may obtain.” The reason for righteous
living is declared here,
We are running to obtain a crown. Is the Gospel ever
referred to as a crown or something to be “obtained”? NO! – IT IS A GIFT!
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things.” He describes the drive, character, and discipline of
an athlete. His whole life is given to this one thing, winning!
“Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we
an incorruptible.” How much more driven should the child of God be? After all,
our crowns are eternal!
“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I,
not as one that beateth the air:” Meaning, I know who the enemy is. I am
engaged in active opposition. I am not just putting on a show. I am not
practicing for someday.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection:” In order to remain effective in opposition, great amounts of
conditioning is required.
“Lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway.” Paul did not want to become
disqualified to preach the Gospel in the eyes of those who the Holy Spirit had
allowed him to reach and influence in his ministry. He wanted to have and
maintain a good testimony!
This entire passage is a parallel with the Olympic
games!
The terminology is identical!
Corinth is located about 50 miles west of Athens. So,
these ideas and this illustration would have been clearly understood by the
average person in Corinth.
"STADIA" ( KJV "race") - In 9:24,
Running the "track", or "race course" event. The KJV word
"race" in 1 Cor. 9:24 is the Greek word "stadia".
"Stadia" was used for the "stadium", in which the foot race
events were held, and also as a unit of measure, for about 220 yards, the
length of the track in the "stadium". Every time you see the word
"furlong" in the KJV, underneath is the Greek word
"stadia", meaning 220 yards. There is even a modern line of athletic
clothing named "Stadia".
"AGONIZOMOS" ä-gō-nē'-zo-mī (KJV
"striveth for the mastery") - In 9:25, "agonizomos" means
"training for the Olympic games". In 1 Tim 6:12 we find
"agonizomos" again. "Fighting the good fight" here
literally means "to be a success" at the Olympic games. We get our
English verb "to agonize" from this word.
"EGKRATEIA" en-krä'-tā-ä (KJV
"temperate") - In 9:25, means the "self control" required
for an athlete to become "world class". In Gal. 5:23 the KJV word
"temperance" is "egkrateia" also, speaking of the
"self control" that is available to God's children to become
"world class" Christians. "STEPHANOS" (KJV
"crown") - In 9:25, the KJV word "crown" is the Greek word
"stephanos", which meant the awards, medals, and wreaths that the
athletes won in the Olympic Games. Our "crowns", throughout the New
Testament, are always the Greek word "stephanos". The Greek word
"diadem" is the word for a "king’s crown", and only Jesus
wears a "diadem". Our "crowns", or rewards for Christian
service are stated 9 times, and are always "stephanos", relating
directly to the athletic awards of the Olympic Games.
"PUKTEUO" pook-teh'-o (KJV
"fight") – In 9:26, Paul "fights", "pukteuo", the
Greek word for "boxing", from which we get our English word
"pugnacious". Paul is saying that our "fight" or
"boxing match" is not as one who "shadow boxes", but our
"boxing match" is real. Again, a Greek Olympic training phrase, used
to state that our enemy is spiritual and very real!
"ADOKIMOS" ad-ok'-ee-mos In 9:27, the KJV
word "castaway" is the Greek word "adokimos", which in this
context means "disqualified" from receiving rewards (stephanos) for
not following the rules. God's Word contains the "rules" for our
"race".
Some excerpts from the following site were used in
this article: http://www.biblefood.com/olympics.html[1]
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