Crown not crowns in respect to the context of 1 Cor 9. and that Crown that he speaks of is the partaking of the Gospel.
1Cor 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Paul is doing something for the Gospel's sake, HE SAYS, "I DO that he might be a partaker THEREOF, of it with you.
That is what it says. Then he proceeds IN CONTEXT to compare this doing for the Gospel's sake to a race.
He says
1Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
As we can see Paul relates this DOING something for the Gospel SAKE to RUNNING in a race that you might receive The prize. HE IS STILL TALKING ABOUT partaking of the Gospel, obtaining salvation. He then exhorts that they run that they may obtain. THE CONTEXT IS THE GOSPEL, THIS IS THE PRIZE they are running to obtain ACCORDING TO the CONTEXT and sentence structure.
GOD through Paul continues.
1Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Paul compares running to obtain the prize, TO BEING TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS. Then DESCRIBES the prize, the GOSPEL AS AN INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN.
He continues
1Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly ( not aimlessly; not as one who has no fixed goal) so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Paul says, "I therefore so run". HOW SO? Not as uncertainly ( not aimlessly;not as one who has no fixed goal) so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But as one that is striving for mastery that he obtain the prize, the Gospel, the INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN.
1Cor 9:27 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 (REPROBATE, REJECTED).
So now GOD through Paul describes this not running AIMLESSLY BEATING THE AIR, as one who is striving for mastery, being temperate in all thing, keeping his body, and bringing it into subjection. THEN HE STATES WHY he is doing it. He says, "lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (REPROBATE, REJECTED)."
A castaway, rejected, a reprobate. Not to partake of the Gospel, the PRIZE, THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN.
Our Lord ans savior does not stop there though HE CONTINUES WITH THE Same CONTEXT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. He starts the NEXT CHAPTER WITH THE WORD "MOREOVER". SO let's take a look shall we?
1Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Cor 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Cor 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Cor 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Cor 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Cor 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Cor 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.