Yes. He created the title for the OP Thread: “Why would Paul fear of losing his salvation”
I’m surprised you missed that, especially since I pointed it out. And as I said, it’s an assumption on his part that Paul feared [of] losing his salvation. An assumption that’s NOT been shown to be true and I doubt it can be shown to be true. I showed where it cannot be true if Scripture is congruent with itself via other equally Holy inspired statements of Paul that are on the subject of salvation, by the way. Would address that point?
I did. See Post #5 where I made the following points:
1. “The verse doesn’t say Paul feared for his salvation”.
2. If Paul really did “fear of losing his salvation” then why did he say otherwise in his multiple statements such as:
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God…
3. The context of verse 27 is clearly about Paul’s apostleship.
Yes. But I doubt you’ll like. But here goes:
I first noticed you come to the conclusion that
“salvation” is the subject of Paul’s words in verse 27. I disagree totally with that conclusion, but I did read and consider what you had to say about it. Here’s why:
Note: You might notice that when I italicize words in my posts, I do so highlighting they are God’s word within my points. Hopefully, I’m not doing that out of context. If I do, it’s by accident or mistake and I’d appreciate correction. It is quite easy sometimes to take a verse out of its intended context (unintentionally or intentionally).
First, if you don’t mind, can you specifically point out what verse within chapter 9 (or 10 for that matter) has Paul using the word “salvation” or “fear”? I don’t find it. That would be really, really helpful toward your case that the topic is “salvation” or “fear”.
In my post I simply highlighted Paul’s “
apostleship in the Lord” and Paul’s “
work in the Lord” as evidence to establish the context of this chapter. Thinking that just a couple of examples would be enough for any objective reader and to keep my post to a reasonable length. Plus I made mention that the Bible publishers’ titles of this chapter support the fact that the subject is Paul’s apostleship (not salvation). Frankly, it’s so obvious that Paul’s Apostleship is the topic of Chapter 9 that I wouldn’t expect anyone to disagree. But I guess you do.
The fact is/remains, that his topic; Paul’s
work in the Lord as a called (commanded even)
Lord’s apostle, is mentioned so often, it's all over that chapter. Similar to the Title of this thread being the topic of discussion (and you missing that), Paul's Topic is titled by most translations.
In verse 19, Paul says this:
19
For although I am free from all people, I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more.
Gain more what? Gain more Salvation or reward? Reward/crowns, brother, is the answer. Again, Paul’s still clearly on the topic of his
working in the Lord as an apostle, working toward receiving an
imperishable crown which he mentions again in verse 25 (right before the verse 27 in question). They clearly go together.
Verses 24-27 is clearly Paul wrapping up this topic using an analogy of “
running in the stadium” to “
receive the prize” for which he’s clearly qualified for (not “disqualified”).
So again, verse 27 is not on the topic of salvation, but rather being “disqualified” as an
apostle, working in the Lord. If you are un-willing to accept any of that evidence and/or re-evaluate this chapter’s topic, then I don’t know what else to say that would convince you. Maybe your mind’s already made up on this verse and there’s really nothing that will change it.
But in reply toward comments/evidence within your counter/opposing evidential case going into chapter 10 I have the following observations:
I did see where you went into chapter 10 highlighting some phrases and ending with the phrase “
lest he fall”.
Once again, I assume you think Paul’s use of the phrase “
lest he fall” is an allusion to “lest he become unsaved” or something of that sort? I don’t. Here’s why:
First I notice that you didn’t highlight the fact that as this new chapter begins Paul says “
Moreover”, meaning “in addition to” which is probably why the editors start a new chapter there and those that use titles, title this additional topic: “A History Lesson from Israel”. They do so, most likely because Paul says:
“I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were [History from Israel’s time being led by Moses] all under the cloud and all went through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink.” … “Now these things happened as examples [Lesson] for us”
So, I’m thinking they get this about right. Do you?
But looking through all the words you highlighted within this “additional” text to verse 27, it’s not obvious (and I’ve tried thinking about it fairly) how that builds upon (provides any evidence for) your conclusion that the topic/context of chapter 9’s verse 27 is “salvation”. Except of course where you end at verse 11 with
the phrase “lest he fall”.
Okay, I see why you are trying to tie verse 9:27 to 10:12. You somehow think "lest he fall" ties in with "disqualified/castaway". I don't. Here's why:
It simply must be noted that the phrase “
lest he fall” is talking about (on the subject of) the ancient Israelites along with Moses were "falling" into various “
temptations” whereas the phrase “
I myself should become disqualified” is talking about (on the topic of) Paul’s
race toward an
imperishable crown of his
Apostleship in the Lord. Not exactly the same subject. Me thinks you are pulling this phrase from the
Moreover (additional text) into the Pauline Apostleship text of Chapte 9. And doing so for obvious reasons searching for something, ever so slim, that could possibly have Paul fearful of losing his salvation. It’s just not there either.
So, can you make the case that Paul meant for us to understand that the Israelites that “
fell” in history are an example/lesson for us is in anyway about Paul’s fearful loss of “salvation” or not? You’ve not made any kind of case for that.
I’m thinking the next verse (that you left out) pretty much excludes this possibility (which is probably why you stopped at 12 rather than posting verse 13 which is Paul’s conclusion of the History Lesson from Israel. And it’s NOT Paul warning us about losing our salvation. It’s a warning (and example) about Temptations!
13
Temptation has not come upon you except what is common to humanity.
I’m thinking Paul’s point is that temptation to sin (like “thinking he stands”, BTW) is common to humanity. Temptations will come to the Christian, just like they did to the Israelites. I’m also thinking that even though we are tempted and at times “fall” into sins, like “thinking we stand” when in reality it’s God that does:
God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also make a way out together with the temptation, so that you may be able to endure it.
I’m thinking just like those from history that were “
baptized into Moses in the cloud”, us NT Christians that are “
baptized into Christ” and indwelled with the Holy Spirit are also tempted and at times similarly “fall”. Yet we know (or should) that
God is faithful and will (not might) “
make a way out” and we will “
endure” it and not fall from His salvation. Otherwise, it’s not just us that fall from salvation, but Christ. And it’s impossible for Christ to fall from salvation. For Christ to be tempted, however, is possible.
Oh, and then you pull into Paul’s working in the Lord toward his apostleship crown passage, the Galatians passage ending with the phrase “
will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Umm….???? I thought you were trying to build a case toward “salvation” being in context of 1 Cor 9:27 verse. What exactly, does Galatians 5 have to do with that case? But relative to the Galatian’s situation, I’m pretty sure that Paul the Working in the Lord Apostle that he was mentioned to them that; .