Posted by PS on November 16, 2004 at 09:25:55:
In Reply to: My take on it -- not quite as long ;-) posted by PS on November 16, 2004 at 09:09:24:
: Paul is certainly speaking of the possibility that he could be disqualified after preaching to others. Now if this does not refer to salvation, what then would he be losing?
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I must add one thing that should be understood...
Some figures of speech are used rhetorically and not as theological tenets. For instance, 1 Corinthians 13 is not saying that some saints who have been burned alive for Christ are not saved because they didn't have true love. I could give more examples, but I think you get the point. To relate this to the post above--
We don't know how much of a definitive theological statement Paul is intending to make about the actual chances of the loss of his salvation, or anyone else's. He is using a rhetorical devise to illustrate the importance of an attitude of "running to win" in regard to our calling in Christ. To make the point, he acquiesces to the possibility of being disqualified even after years of service, much like the possibility of losing (or not finishing) after miles of running a race. We should try to get the point he is really making, not twist his statements around to answer questions he is not responding to.