Exploring Corinthians #14

What About My Rights?

Last week we ended with the last verse of chapter 8 which Paul says that he would never eat meat again as long as he lives if he felt it would cause another believer to stumble.

Then he changes pace a little in chapter 9 in which he starts defending himself again. Let’s read it together:

1 Corinthians 9:1–19 NKJV

1 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? 2 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. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 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? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 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? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 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. 13 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? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 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. 16 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! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 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. 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

1 Corinthians 9:1–18 NKJV

1 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? 2 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. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 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? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 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? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 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. 13 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? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 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. 16 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! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 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.

Verse 1

Paul asks three questions

Am I not free?

Am I not an Apostle?

Haven’t I seen Jesus?

Wasn’t it because of my ministry that you are saved?

Verse 2

It doesn’t matter what others think about Paul’s Apostleship because the Corinthian Christians were proof of it.

Verses 3-5

Paul’s answer to those questioning his authority

Apostles have the right to eat and drink.

They have the right to be married as other apostles at that time were.

Verse 6

Is it only Paul and Barnabas that had to work to support themselves?

Verse 7

Paul uses three analogies here to appeal to there humanity.

Soldier

Doesn’t pay to fight, rather he gets paid to fight a war.

Farmer

Gets to share in some of the harvest

Shepherd

Reaps the benefit of the milk

Verses 8-10

Paul appeals to their religious side and brings up the Law of Moses.

The ox would be used to separate the wheat from the chaff by walking on or pulling a grinding stone over the wheat.

The muzzle was meant to keep the ox from eating the grain which was their livelihood.

The muzzle wouldn’t have been beneficial for the owner because it didn’t promote the health of the ox, and the health of the ox was worth much more than the amount of grain it would’ve eaten while treading.

Was the Mosaic law about animal right or Human rights?

He who plows should do so in hope

He who treads should partake in hope also

Human Rights:

Right to life;

Equality;

Equality; x Security of person; x Freedom from slavery; x Freedom from arbitrary arrest/detention; x Freedom of movement and residence; x Due process of law; x Freedom of opinion and expression; x Freedom of association and assembly; x Right to safe and healthy working conditions; x Right to form trade unions and to strike; x Right to adequate food, clothing, and housing; x Right to education; and x Right to health.

Security of person;

Freedom from slavery;

Freedom from arbitrary arrest/detention;

Freedom of movement and residence;

Due process of law;

Freedom of opinion and expression;

Freedom of association and assembly;

Right to safe and healthy working conditions;

Right to form trade unions and to strike;

Right to adequate food, clothing, and housing;

Right to education; and

Right to health.

Verses 11-14

It’s a great thing for apostles to reap material things where they’ve sown spiritual things.

The priest ate of the holy things

Those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Verse 15-18