What rights do we have? What rights was Paul willing to give up for the gospel? What freedoms are we willing to sacrifice in love of God and neighbor?
1 Corinthians 9:1-18 Rights
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul was free to eat meat offered to idols and also take a salary from the church of God in Corinth. What proof was there of his apostolic authority?
1 Corinthians 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Like a seal fixed to a document, the proof of Paul’s ministry was those who turned to God. Who seals our freedom from this world of sin (Ephesians 4:30)? Was Paul ready to give an answer to those who questioned his authority?
1 Corinthians 9:3 Mine answer [apology] to them that do examine me is this,
How do we give an answer to defend our faith? The Greek word (a?p?????´a, apologia) gives us apologetics, defending the faith. Did Paul have a right to food and drink?
1 Corinthians 9:4 Have we not power [right] to eat and to drink?
Paul begins with a basic human right that all gospel preachers have, to eat and drink, that is, at church expense (Luke 10:7). What about the simple right to get married to a Christian wife?
1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
A sister would be a Christian wife. A Christian ought to marry a Christian (2 Corinthians 6:14). We know that Peter was married (Matthew 8:14-18; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41) to a Christian woman, a sister. With whom did Paul work closely as a fellow Apostle?
1 Corinthians 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
Apparently only Barnabas and Paul supported themselves among the Apostles (Acts 14:14; 18:3). This comradely comment is the only mention of Barnabas after he and Paul had clashed (Acts 15:39). Are soldiers, grape growers and dairy workers justly compensated?
1 Corinthians 9:7 Who 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?
How do these three professions compare to a preacher of the gospel? Are there relevant principles in the Old Testament?
1 Corinthians 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
What principle from the law did Paul use to cover a pastor’s living expenses?
1 Corinthians 9:9 For 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 [only]?
Paul teaches a different method of Bible interpretation than we may have learned. We ought to learn how Jesus and the Apostles interpreted scripture. God does care for animals but the principle is much broader. What higher application of the law does Paul address?
1 Corinthians 9:10 Or 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.
A farm hand and a share cropper’s pay often includes part of the harvest. What hope is Paul talking about, spiritual or physical things?
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Every minister needs some physical things. Yet, did Paul use this right in Corinth? Why did he choose to endure hunger, thirst and other hardships?
1 Corinthians 9:12 If 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.
Under these circumstances Paul decided that taking a salary might hinder his mission. What was the normal case under the Levitical priesthood?
1 Corinthians 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [eat] of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Part of the sacrificial system involved eating (Leviticus 6-7). Paul teaches another principle from the Old Testament. How does this apply to ministers in most cases? Who ordained this?
1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Where did Jesus ordain this (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7)? Why did Paul choose to make a personal sacrifice here?
1 Corinthians 9:15 But 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 [rejoicing] void.
Paul chose the bivocational life, the right to preach the gospel without charge, so that he could exult in giving. Missionaries often have different priorities to pastors. Paul made tents (Acts 18:1-4) so that he could care for himself, his companions and also the weak (Acts 20:33-35).
1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory [brag] of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Glorying can mean both positive rejoicing and negative bragging. Better is our word exult, but that is no longer used much. Paul uses it both ways, saying he rejoices that he can be bivocational, but does not boast about preaching, because he preaches out of obligation. What is Paul’s sense of his calling? What sense of calling do we have?
1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Paul exults or rejoices in his bivocational ability to preach the gospel without charge, not needing a salary.
1 Corinthians 9:18 What 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.
Like many missionaries, Paul chose not to demand pastoral rights because it might have diminished the gospel. Many missionaries today still follow this example and get their funds from elsewhere rather than the mission field. What did Paul choose?
1 Corinthians 9:19-27 Sacrifice
1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Why is this a problem? A salaried minister serves a church, but a missionary is free to go where the gospel is needed. Paul’s circumstances allow him the privilege of reaching the lost rather than mostly preaching to the saved. What was Paul’s motive?
1 Corinthians 9:20 And 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;
Being all things to all people is hard work. Why would we try?
1 Corinthians 9:21 To 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.
To gain means what to Paul?
1 Corinthians 9:22 To 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.
Christ came not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:16–17). To save some is a result of what message?
1 Corinthians 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Paul’s humble attitude is to be a fellow partaker with the brethren. What encouragement can we take from Paul’s example?
1 Corinthians 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.
What prize are we seeking?
1 Corinthians 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.
We seek “the crown of life” (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10). Is Paul speaking of spiritual discipline? To what purpose?
1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
There is a purpose for spiritual discipline. What must a preacher of the gospel watch out for?
1 Corinthians 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.
We have many rights and privileges, especially as children of God. However, we often choose not to fully utilize our rights for a variety of reasons, for peace, for the weak, and for the gospel. What privileges are we willing to give up for the gospel’s sake?
