1 Corinthians, 9

Name: 1 Corinthians
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Conversion Salvation Law Hope Serving Evangelism Humility Church Work Self-control Reward Calling Giving Food

Paul teaches about his own rights as an apostle and the importance of not using them for his own benefit.

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Bible version

The Rights of an Apostle

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

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.

3 Mine answer to them that do 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 well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

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?

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 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.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

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.

13 Do 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?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

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 void.

16 For 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!

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.

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 be 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 them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

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.

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.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

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.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

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.

Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul addresses the issue of his right to receive financial support from the church. He explains that he has the right to be supported financially, as do the other apostles, but he has chosen to forego this right in order to serve the church more effectively. He uses the example of a soldier who serves without pay, and a farmer who works for the harvest, to illustrate his point. He also explains that he has the right to be married, but he has chosen to remain single in order to devote himself to the work of the Lord. Paul then goes on to explain that he has the right to receive financial support from the church, but he has chosen to forego this right in order to serve the church more effectively. He uses the example of a soldier who serves without pay, and a farmer who works for the harvest, to illustrate his point. He also explains that he has the right to be married, but he has chosen to remain single in order to devote himself to the work of the Lord. Paul's point in this chapter is that he has the right to receive financial support from the church, but he has chosen to forego this right in order to serve the church more effectively. He uses the examples of a soldier and a farmer to illustrate his point, and he also explains that he has the right to be married, but he has chosen to remain single in order to devote himself to the work of the Lord. Paul's point is that he is willing to sacrifice his own rights in order to serve the church more effectively. He is setting an example for the church to follow, and he is showing them that they should be willing to sacrifice their own rights in order to serve