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| Chapter 9 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you. For ye are the seal of mine apostleship in the Lord. 3 ¶ Mine answer to those who examine me is this: 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as do other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it I only and Barnabas who have not power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth to war at any time at his own expense? 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? 8 Say I these things as a man, or saith not the law the same also? 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, 10 or doth He say 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. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it so great a thing if we should reap your worldly things? 12 If others are partakers of this power over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that those who minister concerning holy things live of the things of the temple, and those who wait upon the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel. 15 ¶ But I have used none of these things; neither have I written, that these things should be so done unto me. For it would be better for me to die than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory about, for necessity is laid upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensing of the Gospel is committed unto me. 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. 19 ¶ For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; 21 to those who are outside the law, as outside the law (though not outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ), that I might gain those who are outside the law. 22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24 ¶ Know ye not that those who run in a race all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain it. 25 And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, but not with uncertainty; I so fight, but not as one that beateth the air. 27 But I keep control of my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. |
It would appear that Paul for some reason moved away from his discussion on "meat and idols," but this chapter does show the mature use of a Christians freedom. Paul was free to receive money from the Corinthian church members but chose to work to earn his keep. The Greeks preferred to avoid manual labour if they could, they had slaves to do that work. Paul had been trained as a tent maker, it was normal for all Jews to be trained in a trade. 9:1-14 The Church and the support of its workers In these verses Paul gives 5 reasons why the church should support him in his work for the Lord. 9:1-6 He is an Apostle. "Apostle" means "one sent directly by the Lord Jesus" and refers to the 12 disciples and Paul. These men were to lay the church’s foundation. Eph 2:20. An Apostle must have seen the resurrected Jesus, Acts 1:21-22. Paul saw the Lord on the road to Damascus while he was hunting Christians. Acts 9:1-9; Acts 2:32; Acts 3:15; Acts 10:39-43. Apostles were also given the power to perform special signs and miracles as proof of their message Heb 2:4. It appears that Paul performed such miracles in Corinth 2 Cor 12:12. Paul therefore has the right to be supported by the church so that he could spend all his time with the Lord’s ministry, however, v6 indicates that Paul and Barnabas had supported themselves and probably other workers as well v7. v7-10 Paul also reminds the church that soldiers, farmers and all workers would expect to be rewarded for their efforts, even animals were to be rewarded as they worked. Paul quotes Deut 25:4 to prove his point. v11-12 Paul says "we have brought you the message of salvation, should we not have a little of your wealth to help us? Others have, but we have not, but suffered a little so that the message goes out." This principle should also apply today, if we receive spiritual blessings from God’s ministers then we should share material wealth and blessings. Gal 6:6-10. v13,14 In the Old Testament the priests and Levites lived off of the sacrifices made in the temple, therefore so should todays ministers, who are under Grace and not the Law, should also receive support. Consider the instructions Jesus gave to His disciples in Luke 10:7-8; Matt 10:7-15. v15 If then Paul had the right to support by the church why had he not taken it? v15-18 For the sake of the Gospel. It was common for there to be many "teachers" in the days of Paul, who were in many cases ‘just in it for the money.’ It does also apply today. Paul wanted the message to be free of any obstacles (catches) in the minds of the people. Paul did not want to glory in the Gospel v16, God had called him to the task of preaching. God would make sure he was rewarded v18, Luke 10:10; Paul felt that his reward was ‘the joy of preaching the Gospel.’ Paul, when he wrote to Timothy, warned him of "religious thieves" 1 Tim 6:3-16, make sure you know who you are supporting. The love of money has been the reason for many church problems, see Acts 5:1-11; Acts 8:18-24 v19-23 Paul was also willing to become a servant to all so that the preaching of the Gospel would not be stopped. He was willing to give up his freedom. V22 Has been mis-used by many "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." Paul did not change his way of life just to get the message across. The Jews were under the Law and covenants, so Paul started from the Law and showed Jesus, when he preached to a Gentile he started at God, he did not force a Gentile to follow the Law before salvation. To a weak Christian Paul may appear inconsistent (changes) but his purpose was to preach the message. Paul could eat what he liked, but when with a Jew he would only eat according to the Law. v24-27 Paul uses the world of an athlete to get his point over. An athlete, if he wants to win the prize, must put anything out of his life which could damage his training, wrong food, wrong activities, parties, etc. None of them wrong in themselves but could harm the athletes running. He also has to obey the rules of the race, if they break the rules they will be disqualified (removed from the race). A Christian is not in a race to heaven, he has become part of the race because he has received salvation, the race is his new life for Christ. For Paul to win others he has to live a life which allows him to spread the Gospel, he had to be willing to pay a price. v27 Only a Greek was allowed to take part in the races. If one of the runners broke the rules then he became a "Castaway," he was "disapproved, disqualified" This does not mean a loss of salvation, the runner was still a Greek he did not lose his nationality when he was disqualified. In a Greek race only one runner received the winners prize, but every believer can win an incorruptible crown. Paul had one goal in his life, to give glory to God, and to achieve this he was willing to pay any price, even giving up personal rights. |
Easy English Translation
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