1 Corinthians
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1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 9
1Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3My defence to them that examine me is this.
1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
Commentary · verses 1-3
4Have we no right to eat and to drink?
5Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?
7What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
Commentary · verses 4-7
Paul's Premise: workers are given resources in response to working. Paul's three worldly/natural examples were: a soldier, a farmer, and a shepherd.
8Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?
8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
Commentary · verse 8
Paul recognized his examples were from the world, so he transitioned to scripture for his support...
9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, 10or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking.
9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
Commentary · verses 9-10
Paul referenced Deuteronomy 25:4 to show that the work ought to be done with hope for Reward through Justice.
11If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?
11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Commentary · verse 11
Paul pointed out that he was giving something more (spiritual things) than what he was reaping (carnal things). Paul's three chapter introduction that began this letter created the foundation for seeing the spiritual as much more valuable (the cause) than the carnal (the effect).
12If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Commentary · verse 12
Paul pointed out that these same people did not have a problem giving carnal things to carnal people, so they should have less problems giving carnal things to those who give spiritual things.
13Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?
13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Commentary · verse 13
Paul generally referenced the Laws from the Book of Leviticus that allowed the ministers to eat of the things given in the temple.
14Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Commentary · verse 14
Paul said that those who preached the Gospel should live of the Gospel. Notice, living of the Gospel would be food and covering. None of the examples that Paul presented spoke about people getting rich off of their work or using their work to purchase luxuries and/or non-necessities.
15But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.
15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Commentary · verses 15-16
Paul was not preaching the Gospel for physical gain.
17For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.
18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.
19For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Commentary · verses 17-19
Doctrines on this passage
20And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
22To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Commentary · verses 20-23
Paul was a leader to all men. These verses showed Paul facilitating the purpose and progress of various groups of people. Paul adjusted himself for the benefit of others. If Paul was focused on doing the same WHAT regardless of the HOW and WHY of the situation, he would not have been able to reach others. He would be operating in knowledge and not in love.
24Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.
25And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25And 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.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Commentary · verses 24-26
Paul stated that people discipline themselves in the physical to achieve a physical reward. People do the causes to get the effects. Paul then transitioned to the spiritual: Run for the incorruptible prize. This spoke of making spiritual progress, spiritual growth, and spiritual Reward.
27but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
27But 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.
Commentary · verse 27
In the KJV, verse 27 ended by Paul stating: "…I myself should be a castaway." The money of that time had intrinsic value, the money itself was worth what it represented. However, there were people who would shave some of the weight off these coins because the metal was so soft. The coin may be sealed to say "one ounce" but it actually was something less. The people who did this were called "castaways."
Look at verse 27 again, Paul said he could be called a castaway after he preached to others (represented himself) if he did not bring his body under subjection (true value). Paul was saying that actions (true value) have to be consistent with WHAT we represent (teach others) otherwise we are like castaways. Paul was also saying, the church of Corinth was the seal of his apostleship, the represented/claimed value. So the church of Corinth had to make sure their actions matched up with what Paul preached, otherwise the church and Paul would be castaways.
Theme of Chapter 9: In the second of Paul's three chapter answer, Paul focused on his liberty. Paul stated that he needed to have the causes (HOW and WHY) for the effects (WHAT) that he represented, otherwise he was a castaway. Paul defended his receiving carnal resources for giving spiritual value.
In Chapter 4, Paul stated that he would not listen to any man who judged him because God judged him. Here, Paul recognized that others may examine him and that he needed to make a defense. There must have been people accusing Paul of not working. Paul offered his defense to this unjust accusation…