1 Corinthians
Summary
Apostolic Rights and Self-Denial for the Gospel: 1 Corinthians Chapter 9 serves as Paul’s defence of his apostolic authority and his decision to waive his right to financial support. He argues that just as the Law of Moses provides for the ox that treads the grain, so "those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." However, Paul chose to support himself so as not to hinder the progress of the message. He describes his missionary strategy: becoming "all things to all men" in order to save some. The chapter concludes with the metaphor of the athlete, emphasising the need for self-discipline and "running the race" so as to obtain an incorruptible crown, lest after preaching to others, he himself should become disqualified.
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
My defence to those who examine me is this:
Do we have no right to eat and drink?
Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about?
Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who ploughs should plough in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might gain the more;
and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might gain those who are without law;
to the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.