The Four Tenants of Apostolic Behavior: 1 Cor 9
The Four Tenants of Apostolic Behavior:
be•hav•ior \bi-ˈhā-vyər, bē-\ noun
[alteration of Middle English behavour, from behaven] 15th century
1 a: the manner of conducting oneself
b: anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation
c: the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment
2: the way in which someone behaves also: an instance of such behavior
3: the way in which something functions or operates—be•hav•ior•al \-vyə-rəl\ adjective—be•hav•ior•al•ly \-rə-lē\ adverb
Fruit Bearing
The Defense of Paul’s Apostleship
9 aAm I not an apostle? am I not aafree? bhave I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? care not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for dthe seal of mine eapostleship are ye in the Lord. 3 Mine eeanswer to them that do fexamine me is this, 4 Have we not power gto eat and to drink? 5 hHave we not power to lead about ia sister, a ||wife, as well as other apostles, and as jthe brethren of the Lord, and kCephas? 6 Or I only and lBarnabas, have not we power gto forbear working?
Selfless Giving
9-14 Law of Moses - do not muzzle the ox’s mouth
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, sThou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that ttreadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
14 Even so dhath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel gshould live of the gospel. 15 But eI have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make fmy glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing fto glory of: for gnecessity is laid upon me; hyea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
16. Preaching the gospel is no matter for boasting (there is woe for Paul if he does not preach it). He can claim no particular credit for this, for he is compelled to preach (cf. Jer. 20:9). Not all are called to a ministry like Paul’s, but none is exempt from the requirement of letting the grace of God be known. Paul thinks of some undefined disaster (woe) as coming to him if he does not preach. This is perhaps all the more effective in not being closely defined. These days we are not good at emphasizing duty, and we do not like the thought of punishment. Paul is clear about both.
Fruit Bearing
9 aAm I not an apostle? am I not aafree? bhave I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? care not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for dthe seal of mine eapostleship are ye in the Lord.
15 I am athe true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 bEvery branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now cye are clean through dthe word which I have spoken unto you. 4 eAbide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, fye are the branches: eHe that abideth in me, and I in him, the same gbringeth forth much fruit: for ||without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and his withered; and imen gather them, and ijcast them into the fire, and ithey are burned. 7 kIf ye abide in me, and dmy words abide in you, lye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 mHerein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; kso shall ye be my disciples.
what is the nature of the fruit produced when the disciples ‘remain’ in Jesus? There are two common interpretations: (1) righteous living (as required of Israel in Isa. 5:1–8), or (2) the results of preaching the gospel, i.e. new converts. However, to choose one, or even both of these, is to narrow the meaning too much. The context, which stresses that ‘fruit’ is produced as the disciples maintain their fellowship with Jesus by keeping his word and when Jesus continues to fellowship with them by the Spirit, suggests that ‘fruit’ refers to the entire life and ministry of those who follow Jesus’ teaching and experience his presence in their lives through the Spirit.
Self Control
25 And every man that zstriveth for the mastery ais temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible bcrown; but we an cincorruptible.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?k Runl in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crownm that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.n 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;o I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.p 27 No, I strike a blow to my bodyq and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.r
Discipline
27 But dI ekeep under my body, and fbring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, gI myself should be ha castaway.