SAVED AND LOST

READ IT AGAIN
By Professor E M Blaiklock MA DLitt
XLIV.
"SAVED AND LOST"
Read 1 Corinthians 9 Note verse 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.

Does not the fear expressed in
the closing words of Chapter 9 suggest a somewhat grim possibility?
Let us remember that Paul would have counted the failure to win final approval as the most terrible of fates. "Castaway" is, however, a wrong and misleading translation. It is the negative adjective corresponding to the verb in I Cor. 3:13 with which we have to deal. Paul's fear is lest, having like a herald called other men to set out upon the race, he himself shall, at the last review, fail to pass the scrutiny. It is useful to consider the whole context of the imagery.
Paul is picturing the Olympic games. The Judge is on his judgment seat. In Romans 14:10 Paul actually applies to the judgment seat of Christ the word "bema" or "step," which was proper to the raised platform on which the umpire of the races sat. The bema was the goal (Heb. 12:1). As a herald of the course, what tragedy, thinks Paul, if he should stand at last dishonoured! There is no thought of rejection from God's presence. The theme is man's reward. We may note, by the way, that "reprobate" of II Corinthians 13:5, is the same adjective as is found in I Corinthians 9:27. At first sight the verse seems against our interpretation, But look again.
"Examine yourselves,"
" says Paul,
and see whether you pass or do not pass the test."
It is the context in each case that matters.