1 Corinthians Chapter 9

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Introduction

THE apostle had, in 1Cor 8:13, mentioned his willingness to deny himself, if he might be the means of benefiting others. On this principle he had acted; and on this he purposed to act, The mention of this principle of action seems to have led him to a further illustration of it in his own case, and in the illustration to meet an objection that had been urged against him at Corinth; and the scope of this chapter seems to have been not only to give an illustration of this principle, (1Cor 9:27,) but to show that this principle on which he acted would account for his conduct when with them, and would meet all the objections which had been made against his apostleship. These objections seem to have been,

(1) that he had not seen Jesus Christ; and, therefore, could not be an apostle, 1Cor 9:1.

(2.) That he did not live like the other apostles, that he was unmarried, was a solitary man, and a wanderer, and was unlike the other apostles in his mode of life, not indulging as apostles might do in the ordinary comforts of life, 1Cor 9:4, 1Cor 9:6.

(3.) That he and Barnabas were compelled to labour for their support, and were conscious, therefore, that they had no pretensions to the apostolic office, 1Cor 9:6. And,

(4.) that the fact that he was unsupplied; that he did not apply to Christians for his maintenance; that he did not urge this as a right, showed that he was conscious that he had no claims to the apostolic character and rank.

To all this he replies in this chapter; and the main drift and design of his reply is to show that he acted on the principle suggested in 1Cor 8:13, that of denying himself; and consequently, that though he had a right to maintenance, yet that the fact that he did not urge that right was no proof that he was not sent from God, but was rather a proof of his being actuated by the high and holy principles which ought to influence those who were called to this office. In urging this reply, he shows:

(1.) That he had seen Jesus Christ, and had this qualification for the office of an apostle, 1Cor 9:1.

(2.) That he had the power like others to partake of the common enjoyments of life, and that his not doing it was no proof that he was not an apostle, 1Cor 9:4.

(3.) That he was not prohibited from entering the domestic relations as others had done, but had the right to enjoy the same privileges if he chose; and that his not doing it was no proof that he was not an apostle, but was an instance of his denying himself for the good of others, 1Cor 9:5.

(4.) That he was not under a necessity of labouring with his own hands, but that he might have required support as others did; that his labouring was only another instance of his readiness to deny himself to promote the welfare of others, 1Cor 9:6.

This sentiment he illustrates through the remainder of the chapter, by showing that he had a right to support in the work of the apostle:- ship, and that his not insisting on it was an instance of his being willing to deny himself that he might do good to others; that he did not urge this right, because to do that might injure the cause, (1Cor 9:12, 1Cor 9:16;) and that whether he received support or not, he was bound to preach the gospel. In this he shows

(a.) that God gave him the right to support if he chose to exercise it, (1Cor 9:7ff, 1Cor 9:13;)

(b.) that it was equitable that he should be supported, (1Cor 9:11;)

(c.) that the Lord had ordained this as a general law, that they which preached the gospel should live by it, (1Cor 9:14;)

(d.) that he had not chosen to avail himself of it because it might do injury, (1Cor 9:12, 1Cor 9:16;)

(e.) that necessity was laid upon him at all events to preach the gospel, (1Cor 9:16;)

(f.) that if he did this without an earthly reward, he would be rewarded in heaven in a distinguished manner, (1Cor 9:17, 1Cor 9:18;)

(g.) that he had made it the grand principle of his life, not to make money, but to save souls, and that he had sought this by a course of continued self-denial, (1Cor 9:19ff;)

(h.) that all this was done for the sake of the gospel, (1Cor 9:23;) and

(i.) that he had a grand and glorious object in view, which required him, after the manner of the Athletae, to keep his body under, to practise self-denial, to be temperate, to forego many comforts of which he might otherwise have partaken, and that the grandeur and glory of this object was enough to justify all his self-denial, and to make all his sacrifices pleasant, 1Cor 9:24ff.

Thus the whole chapter is an incidental discussion of the subject of his apostleship, in illustration of the sentiment advanced in 1Cor 8:13, that he was willing to practise self-denial for the good of others; and is one of the most elevated, heavenly, and beautiful discussions in the New Testament; and contains one of the most ennobling descriptions of the virtue of self-denial, and of the principles which should actuate the Christian ministry, anywhere to be found. All classic writings would be searched in vain, and all records of profane history, for an instance of such pure and elevated principle as is presented in this chapter.

Text

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? edit

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. edit

3: Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, edit

4: Have we not power to eat and to drink? edit

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? edit

6: Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? edit

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? edit

8: Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? edit

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? edit

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. edit

11: If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? edit

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. edit

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? edit

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

15: But I 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 my glorying void. edit

16: For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! edit

17: For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. edit

18: What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. edit

19: For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. edit

20: And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; edit

21: To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. edit

22: To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. edit

23: And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. edit

24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. edit

25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. edit

26: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: edit

27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. edit