FormerAdventist.com

Study Sheet for I Corinthians 9:19-27 (click here for Study Notes)
COLLEEN MOORE TINKER

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessing.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. Tney do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)

Day 1

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible," Paul says. He continues by saying that he becomes as one under the law around Jews, and around those not under the law he becomes as they are.

1. How do you reconcile his being "all things to all men" in light of his public rebuke to Peter for refusing to eat with Gentiles in front of Jews? (see Gal. 2:11-16; 5:13; II Corinthians 4:5; I Peter 3:1)

2. How did Paul become like a Jew, and why did he do it? (Acts 16:3; 21:20-26; Romans 11:14; 2:12)

3. What does Paul mean when he says in verse 20, "I myself am not under the law," but in verse 21, "I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law"? (Romans 2:12; Gal. 6:2; James 2:8; Matt. 5:43)

Day 2

"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak," Paul says in v. 22. "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."

1. Who were (are) the weak? (see Romans 14:1; 15:1; I Cor. 2:3; 8:9-13)

2. How did Paul hope to save the weak, and how would becoming "weak" help him achieve his goal? (Romans 11:14; I Cor. 10:33; I Thes. 2:15-16; John 3:17; Titus 3:4-5; I Cor. 8:9-12)

3. What does Paul mean when he says in verse 33, "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings?

Day 3

In the next few verses Paul compares the Christian life to a foot race.

1. Why was a race a good metaphor for illustrating the Christian life to the Corinthians?

2. What is the prize Paul urges them to win? (see Php. 3:14; Col. 2:18; I Thess. 2:19-20)

3. How does one run so "as to get the prize"? (see Gal. 2:2; 5:7; Php. 2:14-16; I Tim. 4:7,8; Hebrews 12:1-3)

Day 4

Paul continues his metaphor of the foot race by saying, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." He says further, "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

1. What is the strict training Paul says is necessary for the sake of the gospel?

2. When Paul says, "I beat my body," how is that "beating" different from works? (see Romans 6:1-3, 6; 8:13,14; 19:22; Gal. 5:7; 6:8-10; James 1:23-25; 4:7-10)

3. What does Paul mean when he says (v. 27) he makes his body his slave so he will not be disqualified for the prize after he has preached to others? (see I Cor. 3:10-15; Php. 3:14; Hebrews 12:7)

Day 5

In verse 25 Paul says that athletes compete to get a "crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." He also says, in verse 26, that he does not run "aimlessly"; he does not fight "like a man beating the air."

1. What is the crown that will last forever? (see 2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; I Peter 5:4; Rev. 2:10; 3:11; John 1:1-4)

2. In the context of our lives, what would it look like to run and fight aimlessly? (see I Tim. 6:12)

Day 6

1. Is there someone around whom you feel you are in bondage instead of being free?

2. What makes you feel bound, and what gives you freedom?

Day 7

1. Whom do you need to release into freedom by becoming "as they are"?

2. What in your life stands between you and your experiencing the blessings of the gospel?

3. What area of your life do you need to yield to Jesus, asking him to show you the truth and being willing to accept and allow him to change what he reveals to you?