I myself should not become disapproved somehow.”—1 Corinthians 9:27.

While God is forgiving, he still expects us to fight hard, to discipline ourselves, against the Devil’s enticements and our own inclinations to sin.—1 Corinthians 9:27.

The apostle Paul wrote: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

True, the course of Christian obedience implies vigorous exertion and self-discipline. (Luke 13:24; 1 Corinthians 9:27)

“I pummel my body and lead it as a slave,” Paul wrote.—1 Corinthians 9:27.

The apostle Paul said: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

He said, “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Alan thus learned self-discipline. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

The apostle Paul spoke of his own efforts, saying: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Rather than have your body lead you as its slave, the Bible calls for self-control, the power ‘to lead your body as your own slave.’​—1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Such self-discipline harmonizes with the apostle Paul’s exhortation to ‘punish your body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to do.’​—1 Corinthians 9:27, The Living Bible.

In this way, too, one should follow the counsel of the apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, which says, in part: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.”

The apostle Paul wrote at 1 Corinthians 9:27: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave,” which does not allow for simply giving in to any fleshly desires.

Assume responsibility for your actions and exercise self-discipline. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

On the contrary, Paul wrote: “I pummel my body [fleshly desires] and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Gaining the approval of God becomes a priority, and you struggle to avoid giving in to your desires for physical intimacy. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Better it is to “get tough” with yourself like the apostle Paul who once said: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

The apostle Paul figuratively had to ‘pummel his body’ to reach his goals. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

I myself might be declared unfit.”​—1 Corinthians 9:27.

How could I resist scriptures such as: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow,” and, “Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor”?​—1 Cor. 9:27; Rom. 13:10.

Hence, we will fight every tendency to sin that we find in our own bodies. (Rom. 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 9:27)

That is why he also wrote: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.” (1 Cor. 9:27)

Then, using himself as an example to make the point of his illustration, he continues: “I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”​—1 Tim. 6:19; 1 Cor. 9:24-27, RSV.

He said: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.”​—1 Cor. 9:27.

Then, for their encouragement, Paul used himself as an example, saying: “Therefore, the way I am running is not uncertainly; the way I am directing my blows is so as not to be striking the air; but I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.”​—1 Cor. 9:24-27.

Since I was deeply involved in racing, these words of the Christian apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 particularly impressed me:

That includes keeping separate from the world, ‘pummeling his body’ so that he controls it and not it him, and being on guard against the snares of the Devil. (Jas. 1:27; 1 Cor. 9:27; 1 Pet. 5:8)