Practicing Liberty (Paul's Example)

Verse

1 Corinthians 9:1–7 ESV

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

1 Corinthians 8:13 “13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

Introduction

In chap. 8, Paul set out the limits of Christian liberty.

In this chapter he sets forth how he followed them in his own life.

In vv. 1–18, he discusses his right to be financially supported by those to whom he ministers.

In vv. 19–27, he explains how he would give up all rights to win people to Christ.

All of these questions are rhetorical, the “yes” answer to each being assumed.

9:1–27 Paul defends his work in Corinth by clarifying the nature of true apostleship and his right as an apostle to deny their financial support.

Paul’s comments in this passage frequently draw on his discussion of Christian freedom and rights in 8:1–13.

He argues that he has a right not only to earn financial payment for his work in the Lord, but also to refuse it (vv. 15–18).

Paul explains that he uses his freedom in Christ not for personal gain, but to become a slave to all in hopes they will know Christ (vv. 19–27).

1. Legitimacy of Paul’s Apostleship

1 Corinthians 9:1–3 ESV

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.

Am I not free. Paul’s willingness to forgo some of his rights is an illustration of the principle he states in 8:9. The questions in v. 1 may indicate that some in Corinth were questioning Paul’s authority and criticizing his behavior (v. 3). Or they simply highlight the noncontroversial evidence of his apostolic authority (as v. 2 affirms; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1–3) to show that he has demonstrated the mindset that he is requiring of the Corinthians, the readiness to forfeit personal rights for others’ well-being.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:3 those who would examine me. This statement makes explicit that Paul had indeed been criticized, though scholars debate the specific nature of the complaint (2:1 note). The next ten verses contain more than a dozen rhetorical questions that reflect Paul’s deep emotion and provide clues about the historical situation. Paul defends his right to be supported by the churches, only to emphasize his choice not to receive support (vv. 15–18). Perhaps some of the Corinthians were upset because Paul refused their patronage, and concluded from this that he was not a legitimate apostle (2 Cor. 11:7–12). If he is not, why should they listen to his instruction?

1 CORINTHIANS 9:5 a believing wife. The Corinthians themselves may have raised this issue, as though the lack of a wife discredited Paul and Barnabas, or it may be Paul’s choice of an illustration to indicate the distinction between having a right and exercising it. Both Paul and Barnabas were unmarried at the time of their missionary work, but others labored as apostles while married. Paul takes for granted that if he were to be married, it would be with a believer, a “sister” in the Lord (see text note)

a. Paul seen the risen Lord Jesus (v.1a) 1 Corinthians 9:1 “1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?”

 Am I not an apostle Implies that the Corinthian believers questioned Paul’s apostolic status and authority.

Have I not seen Jesus our Lord Paul refers to his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:1–6; compare 1 Cor 15:3–9).

Acts 9:1–6 “1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.””

1 Corinthians 15:3–9 “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

b. Corinthian church is Paul’s seal of apostleship. (v.1b-2) 1 Corinthians 9:1–2 “1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.”

The existence of the church in Corinth was evidence of Paul’s apostolic authenticity.

you are my seal of apostleship Paul founded the church community in Corinth (Acts 18:1–11).

If the Corinthian believers deny Paul’s apostleship, then they would also have to deny their own legitimacy as a church community.

Their response to the gospel message and their maturity in the faith validate Paul’s apostleship.

Acts 18:1–11 “1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”

c.

1 Corinthians 9:3 “3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.”

Using this Gr. legal term for a preliminary investigation required before a decision was reached in a case, Paul sets out to defend his rights.

Some of the Corinthians seem to have questioned Paul’s apostolic credentials and authority because he did not accept financial support from them. In the first century, travelling speakers regularly collected money to continue their services.

2. Paul’s freedom.

1 Corinthians 9:4–6 ESV

4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

a. Freedom to eat and drink. (v.4) 1 Corinthians 9:4 “4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?”

1 Timothy 5:17–18 “17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.””

Deuteronomy 25:4 “4 “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.”

b. Freedom to marry like the other apostles do. (v.5) 1 Corinthians 9:5 “5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”

He was entitled to be married (v. 5) and to receive financial support from those to whom he ministered.

Mark 1:29–31 “29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.”

c. Freedom to earn from their labor. (v.6) 1 Corinthians 9:6 “6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?”

With sarcasm, Paul, a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), let the Corinthians know that he and Barnabas had as much right as others to receive full financial support from their work.

Acts 18:3 “3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”

Except for help from a few churches (e.g., Phil. 4:15, 16), they paid their own expenses not because of obligation or necessity, but voluntarily.

Philippians 4:15–16 “15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.”

3. Man lives from fruits of their labor

1 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

a. The soldier serves with the countries expense.

b. The farmer eats from the fruit of his vineyard or farm.

2 Timothy 2:6 “6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” .

c. The farmer drinks milk from his flock.

Summary:

Application: