1 Corinthians 9:27

The fully-attested reading ὑπωπιάζω (from ὑπὸ and ὤψ, to hit under the eye) continues the pugilistic metaphor and suits Paul's vehemence; “contundo corpus meum” (Bz [1400]), “lividum facio” (Cod. Claromontanus), “I beat my body black and blue”: a vivid picture of the corporal discipline to which P. subjects himself in the prosecution of his work (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:11 esp. κολαφιζόμεθα; 2 Corinthians 11:23 ff., Galatians 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:4). ὑποπιάζω (ὑπὸ; + πιέζω cf. 2 Corinthians 11:32, etc.) preferred by Hf [1401] and Hn [1402], after Clem. Alex. giving the milder sense, to force under, subdue, subigo (Cv [1403]), is almost syn [1404] with δουλαγωγῶ.

[1400] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[1401] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1402] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[1403] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

[1404] synonym, synonymous.

P.'s severe bodily suffering, entailed by the circumstances of his ministry, he accepts as needful for his own sanctification (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7), a physical castigation which tames the flesh for the uses of the spirit (cf. 1 Peter 4:1 f.; also, for the principle involved, Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5). The practices of the Middle-Age Flagellants and similar self-torturers have been justified by this text; but Paul's discipline was not arbitrary and self-inflicted, it was dictated by his calling (1 Corinthians 10:12 b, 1 Corinthians 10:23) a cross laid on him by the hand of God, and borne for the Gospel's and the Church's sake (cf. Colossians 1:24). In Colossians 2:23 he guards against the ascetic extravagances which this passage, perhaps even in his life-time, was used to support. This “buffeting” of his physical frame enabled P. to “lead (his body) about as a slave,” as one might do a bullying antagonist after a sound beating. Paul's physical temperament, it appears, had stood in the way of his success as a minister of Christ; and the hindrance was providentially overcome by the terrible hardships through which he passed in pursuit of his ministry. This experience he commends to the Cor [1405] He had felt the fear, from which the above course of rigorous self-abnegation in the interest of others has saved him, “lest haply, after preaching to others, I myself should prove reprobate” (ἀδόκιμος γένωμαι): the opp [1406] result to that of 1 Corinthians 9:23. For κηρύσσω, see 1 Corinthians 1:23; the κῆρυξ at the Games summoned the competitors and announced the rules of the contest. With ἀδόκιμος, rejectaneus, cf. δοκιμάζω, 1 Corinthians 3:13, and note; see 2 Corinthians 13:5 ff., and other parls. On the Gr [1407] Games, see the Dict. of Gr [1408] and Rom. Antiq. (Isthmia, Stadium); Hermann, Lehrbuch d. gottesdienstl. Alterthümer, § 50; also the supplementary Note on Greek Athletic Festivals in Bt [1409]

[1405] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[1406] opposite, opposition.

[1407] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.

[1408] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.

[1409] J. A. Beet's St. Paul's Epp. to the Corinthians (1882).