[Re: OP's
"running" concept... good topic!
]
One of my favorite passages regarding Paul's use of
"running" is in
1Cor9 (
note: the
context of the chapter is set up in vv.1-3, see those verses, about his vindicating
his apostleship [overall context of, like, chpts 9-13, if not the entire epistle, actually], and then the "are
YE not my work in the Lord" and "for the seal
of my apostleship ARE YE in the Lord" and the "my answer to them that do examine me is this")...
So vv.19-27a say,
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew,
that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law,
that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak,
that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for
the gospel's sake,
that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
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.
26
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, [...]
Now, where he has mentioned the "
stephanos/crown" (that we "run" to "obtain" an INCORRUPTIBLE crown), keep in mind that elsewhere [and also in view of the entire context above, plus the intro of vv.1-3 I mentioned (but didn't quote)] elsewhere Paul
calls those to whom he has preached (and they have accepted his msg: Christ/are believers)
HIS [PAUL'S] "crown" ("19 For what is our hope, or joy, or
crown [stephanos] of rejoicing?
Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" [because, "believers"... IOW, they have heeded the msg Paul was tasked to give, just like in 1Cor9:1-3,19-27a shows, the context there; his "running to win/obtain" pertains to those who HEAR his msg and have believed it. He is not wanting to HINDER that msg (that he was tasked to give)
getting across, which is the
context of that chpt, esp the concluding v.27])
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