1 Corinthians 9:26

Not as uncertainly. Paul knew exactly where he was going and what he was doing. He aimed to advance as rapidly as possible in the race of life. There was no haziness in his mind about the direction he must take. He ran with a clear and positive assurance of reaching the goal. He exerted himself to the utmost, lest he should fail to secure the crown, a crown, not of fading leaves, but of immortal life, peace, joy, and happiness in the kingdom of glory. The runner in the Greek games had no such certainty of reaching the goal and obtaining the prize. But Paul knew that he, and everyone who complied with the conditions, could be sure of success. When he was nearing the end of his course he gave expression to his absolute assurance that he would receive the crown along with all other victorious Christians (see 2 Tim. 4:7, 8).

Fight. Gr. pukteuō, “to fight with the fists,” “to box.” Fighting with the fists, or boxing, was one of the forms of entertainment in the ancient athletic contests. Paul here introduces a change of metaphor from that of a runner in the race to that of a pugilist in the boxing ring.

Beateth the air. A boxer might be regarded as beating the air when he practices without an opponent. Or his adversary might avoid his blow, and by so doing cause him to waste his effort on the air. Paul here shows clearly that he did not spare his adversary, or permit him to escape his blows; nor did he waste his time in shadow fighting, because his adversary was ever present and must be dealt with decisively. He aimed every blow with certainty, directing it with his whole will and energy so that it effectively reached its mark. The corrupt desires of the flesh were to be suppressed and his whole being brought into captivity to God through Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:3-5).

Many Christians know that there is need to gain the victory over the desires and appetites that are in opposition to the will of God, but they are halfhearted in their efforts to subdue self. They make a pretense of fighting, but they do not really wish their blows to punish that which is part of themselves, because they fear the pain of such well-directed blows. They love their sinful nature too much to hurt it, and lack the strength of will to ignore the pleas of the flesh for mercy. It is not so with Paul. He genuinely wishes to show no mercy to his sinful flesh, his carnal nature. He is ashamed of it, hates it, and desires its death; therefore he discards all thoughts and feelings of pity or tenderness and aims his blows with all his strength and skill and with all his will (see Col. 3:5; CH 51). These words must not be interpreted as though, like the Gnostics (see pp. 54–58), Paul regarded the body itself as intrinsically and incurably evil. He sought mastery, not destruction, of his body.