1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Did The Messenger Paul Bring His Body Into Subjection?

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: I am currently publishing my version of The Set Apart Scriptures – The MCV Bible, link here: https://thetruthnotdoctrine.wordpress.com

Introduction

This article is a difficult one, because at the outset I was not sure of its outcome. It was also written with the background noise of the anti-Pauline gospel brigades out there in the cyber aether. This noise is a very evil noise, and it’s getting louder as each week passes. This is probably just more evidence of our living in the last days of the last days. The Adversary is not a happy bunny, so all you good people who are into The Truth please combat these anti-Paul vermin whenever you can and wherever you come across them.

OK, so did the Messenger (Apostle) Paul bring his body into subjection?

1) And if so, how did he bring his body into subjection? under his own strength?

2) In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 to whom was Paul speaking, newbies or the converted?

3) What’s with all this running and competing, and what is this prize of an incorruptible crown that we ‘obtain’ for having done so?

4) Did he actually strive for the mastery of his body or does this peculiar word ‘mastery’ mean something else?

5) In Truth, is there ever a time that Paul could have been castaway, and what does castaway mean here in this context?

Questions; questions; questions and hopefully all will be answered here:

Now as I write this article I must explain that it is an open study, and one which I am sharing as an on going exercise, for the time being. I am doing this, because at this moment in time, I am not fully convinced one way or the other as to what Paul is actually saying here or, that WE, as born of Yah Christians, should be bringing our bodies into subjection unless, of course, he’s speaking to newbies, that is, the unconverted. The thing is, I do believe there are some very questionable issues going on here, even to the extent of thinking this passage to be a corruption by addition. By that I mean an addition by The Hellenised Roman Cult, and promulgated by the Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion, so possibly not Paul’s words at all and certainly not from his pen.

Here below is the passage of so-called Holy Scripture and I say ‘so-called’ because, until proven otherwise, I believe it to be suspect. However, not so suspect, at this stage, as to say that it should be expunged completely. I say this because it may have been tampered with by the men of the Graceless Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion and changed from the meaning Paul had originally intended. Here are the verses in question:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (KJV) 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, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (All emphasis mine)

NOTICE!! The most conspicuous thing here in these verses is the absence of The Set Apart Exclusive [Holy] Spirit, for nowhere here does Paul (if these actually are Paul’s words) invoke the POWER known as The Set Apart Exclusive [Holy] Spirit in his running, striving and fighting with the attempted subjections of his body and yet elsewhere Paul says this:

Romans 8:4-5 (MCV) That all the just requirements (righteousness) of The Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit. 5 For those (the carnally minded) who are in accord with the flesh are disposed to the things of the flesh; but those who are indwelled with the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit, are in accord with the things of the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit.

So this immediately brings in the question of who Paul was speaking to, for to not invoke the POWER known as the Set Apart [Holy] Exclusive Spirit would perhaps suggest a newbie audience is present, because to talk of the Set Apart [Holy] Exclusive Spirit straight away would be too meaty a subject for these new listeners.

If we take the other view that these people are converts, does Paul, as a Messenger of Yashua Messiah, mind the things of the flesh or the things of the Set Apart [Holy] Exclusive Spirit? And why does Paul not mention the power of Set Apart [Holy] Exclusive Spirit whilst engaged in the arduous rigours of all this running, chasing and mastering after this prize? Is he suggesting that it’s all down to him and his own strength or even that he is not yet saved? Is he now teaching the false doctrines of salvation by works and/or there being a possibility of our losing our salvation, if we’re called and chosen by The Father and born of Yah?

Paul is supposedly using an analogy of the ancient Olympic Games whilst describing our walk with Yashua Messiah (or our run with Yashua Messiah, if these alleged words of Paul are to be believed), but how does that work? for I have never felt that I am in competition against anyone other than The Adversary and his agents, or that I am running in a race! In Truth, I cannot relate to this metaphor at all. My WALK with Yashua Messiah consists of my resting in His Eternal Sabbath Rest, for I have entered into that Eternal Rest:

Hebrews 4:9-10 (MCV) There remains therefore a rest to the people of Yah. 10 For he that is entered into His Rest, he also hath ceased from his own works (striving), as Yah did from His.

And Yashua Messiah’s yoke is also light:

Matthew 11:28-30 (MCV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek (with my power under control) and lowly in heart: and ye shall find a Rest for your lives (souls). 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Here it is folks, in what seems to be in direct ‘contradiction’ of what Paul was alleged to have said, that is, we have ceased from OUR OWN WORKS, and Yashua Messiah’s yoke is light, but what is it that Paul is supposed to have said:

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (KJV) 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.

So what is this prize? Is it salvation, or is it those heavenly rewards that are stored in heaven to be given us in The Resurrection?

Matthew 5:11-12 (MCV) Happy are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they The Prophets which were before you.

Great is your reward in heaven if you suffer persecution. This reward has nothing to do with our salvation as Paul confirms in 1 Corinthians 3:14-15:

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (MCV) If any man’s work survives the fire which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward, 15 but if any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet as one who had escaped through the fire.

We shall receive a reward for our works. This reward is over and above the free gift of salvation, because even if our works are burned (hay, stubble or wood) we shall still be saved, so what is this prize that Paul is supposed to be referring to?

Ephesians 1:3 (MCV) 3 Blessed be Yah The Father of our Yahavah Yashua Messiah, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in the celestial (heavenly) places in The Messiah – The Anointed:

We are already blessed with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in heavenly places, so what is Paul talking about when saying we have to strive, run, punch and subject our bodies to some form of pugilism or masochistic self-flagellating regime, in order to receive a prize, and what prize is Paul really referring to, if at all?

Well he says the prize is a crown, so that must mean kingship and when does that occur?

Revelation 5:10 (MCV) And hast made us unto our Yah kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Notice, on the earth, not in heaven as many liars and deceivers would have us believe)

As we can see, this event occurs in the future, or does it?

Luke 17:21 (MCV) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of Yah is within you.

So how is the Kingdom of Yah within us? Like this:

John 14:20 (MCV) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

If Yashua Messiah is in us, that’s if we’re called, chosen and born of Yah, are we not already heirs as kings and priests? And this being the case have we not in principle already obtained the crown or prize? so are we therefore not types of kings and priests, that is, kings and priests as yet without a literal kingdom or a throne, as a king might live in exile?

Did Yashua Messiah not say this:

John 18:36 (MCV) Yashua answered Pilate, My Kingdom is not of this world (this system): if my Kingdom were of this world (this system), then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Serpent Seed Canaanite Jews: but now is my Kingdom not from hence.

However, Paul is then alleged to have said this: “Everyman that striveth for the mastery,” and from Strong’s Concordance we get this:

G75 – Striveth or to strive – ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee – From G73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): – fight, labour fervently, strive.

As I have already said, to whom is Paul speaking? Is it to those already birthed in Yashua Messiah, or is it to newbies? In the previous verses of 1 Corinthians 9 we get Paul teaching how he became all things to all men in order that he might reach a few of them with The Gospel of The Kingdom of Yah. So what is going on here, for Paul is allegedly saying that the prize has yet to be obtained by this audience?

What does Yashua Messiah have to say on this matter?

Luke 13:23-24 (MCV) Then said one unto Him, Yahavah, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait (tough and difficult through trials) gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Here we can plainly see that striving only occurs at the beginning of our calling, that is, at the time of our Baptism. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. Many who are called strive to enter in at the strait gate (tough and difficult through trials and obstacles put in our way by the Adversary) but fail to enter in because they are not strong enough. Why are they not strong enough? Easy, because they lack Faith and turn away from Yashua Messiah to the Graceless Law based Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion, for their salvation, and the wide path with its delusional “salvation by works” and ear tickling religious system and deceptions (see link Nos. 1, 2 & 3 below).

So having got this far we have to presume that Paul IS speaking to newbies, if it is Paul saying these words at all. How do we know that? Again that’s easy, because he is talking about obtaining something. Those there have obviously not obtained the prize, and are being encouraged by Paul to so. So what is the prize? Salvation is the prize through being Baptised and receiving the gift of The Set Apart Exclusive Spirit and yet Paul makes no mention of this – why? Compare that to how Peter preached to his newbies:

Acts 2:38 (MCV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be Baptised every one of you in the name of Yashua Messiah (Jesus Christ) for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit.

OK, in fairness, Peter had a Jerusalem audience that were pricked in their hearts due to Yashua Messiah’s recent murder, and Paul did not, but nevertheless Peter was straight in there with the call to repent and be Baptised, so what was Paul allegedly up to?

We now have this business of ‘the mastery’ – what’s that and what has it got to do with bringing our bodies into subjection? Well, if we continue with my idea that Paul is speaking to newbies, ‘the mastery’ might mean an office of some kind, not a self-strength ability to conquer ones bodily lusts which we know no man possesses:

From Strong’s Concordance:

Mastery – G1849 – exousia – ex-oo-see’-ah from G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:–authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

Looks like ‘mastery’ has strange meaning altogether, that is, someone in a position of power or authority, a magistrate or even a superhuman potentate with powers to delegate influence. What’s going on here I wonder, for Paul is supposed to be saying we STRIVE for this earthly position? (See link Nos. 4, 5 & 6 below).

Then we get this term that follows, that is, “be temperate in all things.” So what do we have here? If we are “temperate in all things” are we not ‘healthy’ already and do we need The Physician? If so, and by association, are they that are “temperate in all things” in need of salvation? These goody goody ‘butter wouldn’t melt in their mouth’ types all sound too good to be true, don’t they? Especially when Paul is alluding to it all being of our own strength or of his own strength.

Then Paul is alleged to have said: “Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

Now which ever way we cut this it sounds like salvation by works, that’s if it’s aimed at the converted, and yet we do not fully receive a crown until The Resurrection. This means, again, that if these are genuine Pauline words, then he must be speaking to newbies, and the crown is metaphorically a reference to Baptism and the Gift of the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit when our names are written in the Book of Life and we symbolically receive a crown.

Then Paul undoes everything by saying this, which, for me, is the most deceptive part of this passage.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (KJV) 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, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Here he says he is running, but not uncertainly, and fighting as if not punching the air, so is this a back handed acknowledgement of the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit acting in his fight?

He’s fighting and subjecting his body, but fighting whom or fighting what and why is his body still alive? Does Paul not know what occurs at Baptism? Does he not know that our bodies die in the watery grave with Yashua Messiah? For elsewhere he says this and he says it twice:

Romans 7:17 (MCV) 17 So this means it is no more I that do it, that is, it is no more me, as the new creation, that sins, but, rather, the sin factor that dwells in my dead body of sin that died in the watery grave of Baptism with Yashua Messiah.

Romans 7:20 (MCV) Now, if I do that which I have the inner desire not to do, it is no more I that do it, but the sin factor that dwells in my dead body of sin.

There it is, plain as plain can be – IT IS NO LONGER PAUL THAT SINS!! So is Paul now into boot strap self help Christianity? Is he preparing himself for a mickey mouse self-flagellating monastic life in one of those outposts on the remote Irish Atlantic coast, in order to live like some weirdo whack job hermit? If not, it certainly sounds like it.

Now here’s another thing, if Paul slipped at any time would Yashua Messiah have cast him aside or would He have admonished him in order to correct him and set him again on the right path? Did Yashua Messiah love Paul or not? Is Yashua Messiah the author and finisher of faith or not?

Hebrews 12:2 (MCV) Looking unto Yashua Messiah the author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of The Throne of His Father.

Again from Strong’s we get this:

Castaway – G96 – adokimos – ad-ok’-ee-mos – From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1384; unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): – castaway, rejected, reprobate.

How, in Truth, do we get to this situation and how could Paul, the greatest Messenger (apostle) that ever lived, be castaway by Yashua Messiah? If we slip up or even backslide temporarily will Yashua Messiah reject us as reprobate or as worthless as being irredeemable? No way, for He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us, and this means through thick and thin, or at times when we might think we don’t deserve it. Hence I ask, are these really Paul’s words here, or some Hellenised Roman Cult religious BS addition?

Let’s keep in mind here that Paul is man who is now led by the Set Apart Exclusive Spirit, not by the demands of the flesh and he said these words:

Romans 7:24-25 (MCV) O wretched man that I am! who shall redeem me from the body of this death? I thank Yah through Yashua Messiah our Yahavah for it has all been done. So then with the new man I, myself, serve The Law of Yah; but with the dead carnal flesh of the old man, the law of sin.

To sum up, I think these four verses are suspect and leave much to be desired, unless, of course, they are aimed strictly at newbies when even then they are misleading, so, all in all, I would treat them as suspicious.

In Yashua Messiah’s Set Apart name

Messenger Charles

1. Progressive or Libertine Christianity Versus Fundamental Christianity: https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/progressive-or-libertine-christianity-versus-fundamental-christianity/

2. Are You A Cultural Jew Marxist Or A Christian?…: https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/2021/10/04/are-you-a-cultural-jew-marxist-or-a-christian/

Roman Catholicism is NOT Christianity; Eastern (Russian & Greek) Orthodoxy is NOT Christianity; AngliCAINism is NOT Christianity; PROTESTantism is NOT Christianity.

3. The Counterfeit Cainite-Judeo-Christian Religion: https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/2017/05/26/the-cainite-judeo-christian-religion/

4. What Is The MYSTERY of Mystery Babylon The Great?: https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/what-is-the-mystery-of-mystery-babylon-the-great/

5. For There is No Respect of Persons With Yah – Romans 2:11 – But What is a Person? – Parts 1 & 2:                      https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/for-there-is-no-respect-of-persons-with-god-romans-211-but-what-is-a-person-parts-1-2/

6. Why Did Yashua Messiah Walk on The Sea – Part 1 of 2: https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/why-did-yashua-anointed-the-lord-jesus-christ-walk-on-the-sea/

7. Why Did Yashua Messiah Walk on The Sea – Part 2 of 2: https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/2021/03/10/why-did-yashua-messiah-the-lord-jesus-christ-walk-on-the-sea-part-2-of-2/