To Be or Not To Be, part 1

Continuing Christian Liberty

Christian liberty is not fussing about what you can’t do or bragging about what you can do, its abut not causing harm to your weaker brother.

What we find in chapter 9 is that Paul chose to limit some of his rights in the name of Christian liberty to avoid harming his weaker brethren.

Tonight we are going to begin chapter nine, we will follow this outline:

What Rights he CHOSE not to Exercise v. 1-14

Why he CHOSE not to Exercise them v. 15-18

Which Rights he CHOSE to Exercise v. 19-27

Tonight we’re just going to hit the first point.

Rights Paul CHOSE not to Exercise v. 1-14

1 Corinthians 9:1 KJV 1900

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?

Let us discuss first the:

Qualifications of Apostleship

Evidently the Corinthians had questioned his apostleship or at least his authority as an apostle.

To be an apostle one must have:

See the risen Lord

There is no written record that Paul saw Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry, but it was certainly possible

We do know that Paul saw Him on the way to Damascus Acts 9:3 “3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:”

Have been commissioned by Christ to serve Acts 9:15

Acts 9:15 KJV 1900

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Paul was just as much and apostle as Peter, James, or John

Yet, there were some things these men did, some privileges they exercised, that Paul abstained from.

Vindication of His Apostleship

1 Corinthians 9:1–2 KJV 1900

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.

He was free form sin’s bondage

He had planted the church in Corinth

Other places and other people may have had reason to doubt Paul’s apostleship (out of ignorance of course), but not the Corinthians!

His Rights as an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 KJV 1900

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?

To eat and drink.

That is referring to food offered him by the local churches he served in.

Paul often refused this preferring to work and earn money so as not to be a burden in the poor areas he ministered in - he did not want to be accused of being a crook!

He had the right to be married!

Peter and James were

Possible his current traveling partners, Barnabas and Sosthenese were as well

Paul was not and he chose to remain single. Probably because he knew what his end would be.

He and Barnabas had the right to be supported by the churches as the other apostles were, but again, they chose to work instead.

His Rights as a Human

1 Corinthians 9:7–10 KJV 1900

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.

According to “natural laws” or custom, people are to be paid for services rendered.

Soldiers don’t call themselves to battle. They don’t pay for the war or supply their own equipment.

Farmers who toil over their fields planting crops, won’t they eat of that crop too?

Shepherds who care for a flock, don’t they also partake of the milk of the crop?

The same same is true in ministry!

Not only do the natural laws and customs support the fact that men are to be paid for their work, but it is also Scriptural sound as well:

Compare 1 Corinthians 9:8 with Deuteronomy 25:4

Deuteronomy 25:4 KJV 1900

4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

God saw fit to take care of the animals used in farm work, look at 1 Cor. 9:10

1 Corinthians 9:10 KJV 1900

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.

The point of God’s caring for animals was to prove His ultimate purpose: caring for the worker.

His Rights as Minister in Full-Time Christian Service

1 Corinthians 9:11–14 KJV 1900

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.

“If we have sown unto you spiritual things...”

The gospel message that saved them

The truth that had built them up

This very letter sent to correct them

All of this was the work of the Lord for the church!

What the Bible Teaches Concerning the Church’s Responsibility to Their Minister

“…is it a great thing if we shall reap of your carnal things?”

Paul had sown spiritual truth, as a church it was their responsibility to support him with “carnal things”

“Carnal things” = material support

Notice 1 Cor. 9:12

1 Corinthians 9:12 KJV 1900

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.

“If others...” The Corinthian church had supported other preachers evidently

Paul CHOSE not to receive support in order to prevent any suspicion from the pagans and Jews in Corinth.

Paul, however, was not the pastor of the church

Paul was what we would refer to as a pioneering missionary, the one responsible for founding the church

This passage is not teaching that pastors should work and a not be supported by their churches…more on that later...

Read 1 Cor. 9:13

1 Corinthians 9:13 KJV 1900

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?

The OT priests, and even the pagan priests, recieved financial and material/food support from the worshipers.

If they received support…what about the gospel minster?

1 Corinthians 9:14 KJV 1900

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

Notice those words:

“Even so hath the Lord ordained...”

Ordained = arranged, instituted, prescribed

“…they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

Just as the pagan and OT priests were supported by the worshipers, so should the Gospel minsters be supported by the church today.

Take Away

Paul, by CHOOSING to not receive support was in no way setting a precedent for every gospel teacher.

Paul’s decision was based on what was best for the church.

For us, the lesson is this: Just because you have liberty to do something, does not mean you MUST exercise that liberty.