Paul himself practiced self-denial and endured severe hardships and privations that he might win the prize of eternal life, and, by his example and teachings, lead others also to be gainers of the same reward. He says: “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; 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.” The apostle desired to arouse his Corinthian brethren to see the danger that menaced them through self-gratification, he therefore dwelt on the rigid discipline and abstemiousness necessary to develop soundness, vigor, and endurance in the competitors in the games. He drew a contrast between this preparation and its consequences, and the self-indulgent life of the Corinthian Christians, who had matters of eternal interest at stake, and needed the fullest strength of body and mind in order to come off victorious. He showed them that heretofore their course had been highly censurable; for not even anxiety for spiritual health and the honor of the gospel could induce them to deny the cravings of appetite and passion. {LP 166.2}

Paulus praktiserede selv selvfornægtelse og udholdt hårde prøvelser og afsagn så han kunne vinde det evige livs pris, og ved sit eksempel og lære, lede andre til at også vinde den samme løn. Han siger: "Jeg løber derfor ikke på må og få; jeg kæmper som en nævekæmper, der ikke støder i luften, men jeg er hård mod mit legeme og holder det i ave, for at ikke jeg, der har prædiket for andre, selv skal blive forkastet." Apostlen ønskede at vække brødrene i Korint til at se den selvtilsfredstillelses-fare som truede dem. Derfor dvælede han ved den hårde disciplin og afholdenhed, der var nødvendig for at udvikle sundhed, livskraft og udholdenhed hos legenes konkurrenter. Han trak en modsætning mellem denne forberedelse og dets konsekvenser, og de korintiske kristnes selvglade liv, som havde ting af evig interesse på spil, og behøvede kroppens og sindets fulde styrke, for at komme sejrrige ud. Han viste dem at deres hidtil lagte kurs var højt kritisabel; for ikke en gang iver for åndelig sundhed og evangeliets ære kunne få dem til at fornægte appetittens og lidenskabens begærlighed.