"Paul presents the contrast between the chaplet of fading laurel received by the victor in the foot races, and the crown of immortal glory that will be given to him who runs with triumph the Christian race. “They do it,” he declares, “to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” To win a perishable prize, the Grecian runners spared themselves no toil or discipline. We are striving for a prize infinitely more valuable, even the crown of everlasting life. How much more careful should be our striving, how much more willing our sacrifice and self-denial! AA 311.3"
"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."
The EGW passage directly quotes and expands upon 1 Corinthians 9:25, drawing a parallel between the perishable crown sought by athletes and the incorruptible crown of everlasting life offered to Christians. The passage uses the biblical text as a springboard for exhortation and application.