Reading for October 2nd

 Read 1 Corinthians 9.19-27. In verses 19-23: Becoming a slave. In verse 19: Slave: Along with apostle, Paul uses slave as a self-designation (Phil 1.1). Win means to convert. In verse 20: Became as a Jew is surprising, since since Paul was born a Jew (Phil 3.5-6). Those under the law probably refers to Jewish Christians who continue to observe Torah. Paul no longer lived under the law in the same way (Gal 4-5). In verse 21: Those outside the law are gentiles. Christ's law: Rom 8.2. In verse 22: The weak are gentile Christians (8.7). In verses 24-27: Saying no to oneself. Two athletic examples-runners and boxers-illustrate the importance of self-control, the ability to limit our desires (2 Pet 1.6). In verse 27: Punish my body refers to the athlete's training. Comments or Questions..