WHAT DOES “DISQUALIFIED” MEAN IN 1 COR 9:27?
Apr 4, 2019
ETERNAL SECURITY PART 10
“Dave, what does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 9:27 when he talks about being disqualified?”
SHORT ANSWER (30-60 second read time)
In the context of this passage, Paul addresses this carnal local church (1 Cor. 3:1-4) about the proper use of their Christian liberty in serving Christ and winning others to Him (9:19-23).
Paul is writing to believers about the possibility of obtaining the prize or reward of an imperishable crown for persevering in the Christian life (likened to a race) and not being “disqualified” from receiving a future reward when the Lord returns (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 4:5).
Salvation is a gift (not a reward) and a present possession for the believer that can never be lost (Eph. 2:8-9), whereas rewards are given to faithful believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10-11) when He returns at the Rapture (1 Cor. 4:5). This passage is a prize-or-reward passage for the believer in Christ, not a salvation-from-Hell passage (Rokser).
LONGER ANSWER (1-2 minute read time)
Both the immediate and broader contexts reveal that Paul is not concerned at all about his final salvation but about using his freedom of conscience in areas of Christian liberty to most effectively serve others, especially in preaching the gospel and reaching the lost.
Clearly for Paul, winning in his gospel ministry as an apostle meant utilizing his liberties most effectively in leading others to salvation, not striving for his salvation.
The context of 1 Corinthians 9 shows that being a “partaker” of the gospel has nothing to do with guaranteeing personal salvation by one’s perseverance to the end. Rather, the context deals with financial and material support for ministers of the gospel. Paul is teaching that though he has the right to be financially and materially supported in the gospel ministry by others, he chooses instead to support himself in the gospel ministry because he views himself as a servant to others (9:19-23). He abstains from using his rights as an apostle so that he might reinvest his rights, so to speak, in reaching even more people with the gospel.
His argument is that if he faithfully perseveres in his God-appointed race of gospel ministry, then he will not be disqualified from receiving the reward of a “prize” (v. 24) or a “crown” (v. 25; cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 4:1-5). The free gift of salvation is never described as a “prize;” but the word “prize” is a fitting description for a reward.
Therefore, in 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul is simply saying that, like an athlete who trains for winning the competition, he seeks to use his liberties and rights as an apostle to maximize, rather than jeopardize, the effectiveness of his gospel preaching to the lost (Stegall).
SOURCES USED
Rokser, Dennis M. Shall Never Perish Forever. Grace Gospel Press, chapter 31.
Stegall, Thomas L. Must Faith Endure for Salvation to Be Sure?: A Biblical Study of the Perseverance versus Preservation of the Saints. Grace Gospel Press, chapter 10.