1 Cor 9

Paul had been speaking to those who thought to assert their rights even if it hurt others now he uses himself as an example, not asserting his right to be cared for even though he had that right. This is what he means by am I not free. I have this freedom, but I’m not using it for the good of the gospel.

PAul seeing Christ ,

This is my defense refers to the preceding verse, (You are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord) What follows is the consequence of that.

The Corinthians in had been exercising their rights to eat and drink even to the detriment of their brothers. Paul is saying if you have the right to eat and drink (not food offered to idols but to be sustained by the church in his preaching) surely I do as well.

The law is always regarded as authoritative, Paul is arguing that the primary application of the verse is to man not animals. The Christian worker should do his work in hope. I might add that all workers should do their work in hope and the idea that the government should own your labour, the means of production, (socialism) is not biblical. Private property is biblical and profit is biblical.

12 some other apostles had received gifts and Paul’s refusal to take them was used against him as proof that he was not an apostle. Why didn’t he take them, how would it have hindered the gospel? Because he knew that they would use it to call into question his motives.

The Lord has said that the worker deserves his wages see , , and . Charismatic poverty is a privilege not a requirement. Paul may have been charged with a lack of Trust by the Corinthians for not taking from them.

Paul’s deep emotion, He would rather die than… Are we that conscientious about avoiding any cause for offense and denying ourselves.

Paul emphasizes duty and punishment for not fulfilling it. Somehow we see our service in the church as voluntary and therefore optional and on a different level of importance.

Paul says that the dispensation placed on him compels him to preach there is no reward in this but his reward is in denying himself in the course of that which he did not need to do.

Paul was no slave but a Roman but he made himself a slave for all to for the sake of the gospel. If we can be free we are to use it for the blessing of others. We work to rest but that rest may be for others not ourselves.

Not under the law, not lawless, the life of a servant (emphasize that we don’t acquiesce with putting people under bondage.

Where there is no principle at stake we go to whatever lengths necessary to meet people where they are at.

Even in insisting on these rights for Christian workers Paul is not think of himself but of other Christian workers, even today.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 9

He alludes to 1 Co 8:9, “this liberty of yours”: If you claim it, I appeal to yourselves as the witnesses, have not I also it? “Am I not free?” If you be so, much more I. For “am I not an apostle?” so that I can claim not only Christian, but also apostolic, liberty.

, Jesus appeared to him in the way

shows that seeing the risen Christ was a requirement

the signs of a true apostle we were seen in him and they were not just saved by they had received the sign gifts that attest to the genuineness of Paul’s apostleship

vs 4, do we not have the right or liberty (again the idea of freedom) and vs 1 “Am I not free”

The false teachers accused Paul of taking advantage of the rights of an Apostle without being one in and then when they found out that he hadn’t exercised those rights so that they could not accuse them of this they charged that he had not exercised those rights because he knew that he was not an apostle

Paul supported himself by tent making

How Paul supported himself (; ; ; ).

A soldier, farmer and shepherd are all metaphors of for the minister of Christ

A soldier, farmer and shepherd are all metaphors of for the minister of Christ

*** Research We see that the law reveals something of the heart of God. While it is expressed in terms of his care for animals here it reflects his care for man

Work should be remunerated. There should be the hope of profit. In our society capitalism is seen as an evil thing. But the idea of private property and the ability to make a profit is biblical. In socialism an individuals labour is owed to society. You do not own your labour, you do not own the what your labour produces.

Vs 9 the ox was used to extract the kernel from the husk. The preacher extracts fruit from God. People at work

vs 10

Plow in hope, thresh in hope. Plow relates perhaps to planting the seed, threshing to edify the church and bring fruitfulness. The ultimate hope is to see fruit for God, but there should also be the hope that you won’t have to starve in the process.

Vs 11 if we nourish your spirit surely you should not neglect to nourish the body

vs 12 Others maybe other true apostles or false apostles

Suffer all things, love bears all things

13 the priests got to eat part of the sacrifice

16 Though Paul would insist on payment for those who labour in ministry he would not accept this for himself for he knew that false teachers would use it to discredit his ministry and he would rather die then hinder the gospel.

Paul distinguishes between what is a duty that is undeserving of reward that which is voluntary for the benefit of the gospel which will indeed receive a reward.

Vs 17 this verse reminds me of that verse in Romans that says

Here what Paul is saying is, If I was preaching just because I thought it was a nice thing to do I might be worthy of a reward but I’m not, the constraining grace of God is compelling me so I am merely doing my duty I am not deserving of a reward in fact woe is me if I don’t preach. But my reward is not for preaching the gospel but rather for doing so without cost so that I can win the more.

Does that mean that David will get a greater reward if we cut his salary. No

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 278). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.