The Epistles · Chapter 9 of 16

1 Corinthians 9

Paul defends his apostleship and his right to material support, then explains why he refuses to use it. Though workers deserve their wages and the Lord ordained that preachers live by the gospel, Paul preaches free of charge to remove every obstacle. He becomes all things to all people to save some, disciplining himself like an athlete to win an incorruptible crown.

What happens in 1 Corinthians 9

Paul defends his apostleship: he has seen the Lord and the Corinthians are the fruit of his labor. He argues that he has every right to eat, drink, marry, and be supported, appealing to common sense, the law of Moses about the ox, and the temple servants who live from the altar. The Lord himself ordained that gospel preachers live by the gospel. Yet Paul has used none of these rights, choosing to preach without charge so that his glorying is not made void.

Necessity is laid upon him; woe to him if he does not preach. His reward is offering the gospel free. Though free from all, he made himself servant to all, becoming a Jew to Jews, weak to the weak, all things to all men, to save some. Finally he compares the Christian life to a race and a boxing match, disciplining his body lest, having preached to others, he himself be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9 in context

Wandering teachers in the ancient world commonly charged fees, and the Corinthians may have suspected Paul's refusal of support signaled he was no true apostle. In this chapter Paul defends both his apostleship and his deliberate surrender of its privileges.

It flows directly from chapter eight: Paul models the very self-denial he asked of the strong, giving up rights for the gospel's advance and others' salvation.

Main themes of 1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9 (KJV)

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, 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? 8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 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. 11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 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. 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? 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of 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! 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. 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. 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: 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.

Verses to carry from 1 Corinthians 9

“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”1 Corinthians 9:14

“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.”1 Corinthians 9:22

“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.”1 Corinthians 9:27

Reflection

Am I running the Christian life with aim and discipline, or beating the air? Paul surrendered his rights and trained his body to win others. Today I can name one comfort I will lay down for the gospel, and one habit of self-discipline that keeps my faith from growing slack.

A prayer from 1 Corinthians 9