ἀδήλως

From the study of 1 Corinthians 9:26

Range of meaning

Adverb from adēlos, 'not plain, not visible, not evident' (a- 'not' + dēlos 'clear, evident'). Range: (1) unseen, unnoticed, unmarked; (2) unclear, indistinct; (3) uncertain, of something whose outcome cannot be seen ahead of time. BDAG gives 'uncertainly' for the adverb here, and many commentators explain it as 'without a clear goal' or 'aimlessly.'

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'uncertainly' follows the Latin in incertum. Modern versions say 'aimlessly' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV), 'not without aim' (NASB) or 'with purpose in every step' (NLT). 'Aimlessly' gets closest to the image: a runner with no visible line or end-post.

How it drifted

In older English 'uncertainly' could mean 'without a fixed or determined course.' Today it mostly means 'hesitantly, with doubt,' as if Paul were saying he runs with confidence rather than self-doubt. That is a psychological reading the Greek does not suggest.

Used elsewhere in the period

In this same letter Paul writes of a trumpet that gives an adēlon sound, an indistinct call that no soldier can act on (1 Cor 14:8). Jesus speaks of mnēmeia ta adēla, 'unmarked graves' that people walk over without knowing (Luke 11:44). In classical Greek adēlos often means 'unknown, obscure' (LSJ). The LXX has adēlos for hidden things (Ps 50:8 LXX = 51:6).