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1 Corinthians 9

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1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

2Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:

4Have we no right to food and to drink?

5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?

7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

8Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

10Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?

12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

13Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

14In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

16Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

19Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.

21To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

26Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

27No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

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1 Corinthians 9:1-14 Verses 1-14

It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-will to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as an example of self-denial, for the good of others. He had a right to marry as well as other apostles, and to claim what was needful for his wife, and his children if he had any, from the churches, without labouring with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do our souls good, should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right, rather than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people's duty to maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but those transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support.

1 Corinthians 9:15-23 Verses 15-23

It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, and against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must not allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Verses 24-27

The apostle compares himself to the racers and combatants in the Isthmian games, well known by the Corinthians. But in the Christian race all may run so as to obtain. There is the greatest encouragement, therefore, to persevere with all our strength, in this course. Those who ran in these games were kept to a spare diet. They used themselves to hardships. They practised the exercises. And those who pursue the interests of their souls, must combat hard with fleshly lusts. The body must not be suffered to rule. The apostle presses this advice on the Corinthians. He sets before himself and them the danger of yielding to fleshly desires, pampering the body, and its lusts and appetites. Holy fear of himself was needed to keep an apostle faithful: how much more is it needful for our preservation! Let us learn from hence humility and caution, and to watch against dangers which surround us while in the body.

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Animals: God's Care of 1 Corinthians 9:9

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

Appetite: Kept in Subjection 1 Corinthians 9:27

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Armies in Latter Ages Received Pay 1 Corinthians 9:7

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

Boxing: Figurative 1 Corinthians 9:26

Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

Captivity: Figurative 1 Corinthians 9:27

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Christian Minister: Call of 1 Corinthians 9:16–19

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! / If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. / What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of 1 Corinthians 9:16–23, 27

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! / If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. / What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

Christian Minister: Duties of 1 Corinthians 9:16, 17

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! / If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

Christian Minister: Emoluments (Benefits) of 1 Corinthians 9:1–23

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord? / Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. / This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:

Christian Minister: Promises To, Joys of 1 Corinthians 9:9, 10

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? / Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

Christian Minister: Tact of 1 Corinthians 9:20–23

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. / To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. / To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

Compassion and Sympathy: Paul 1 Corinthians 9:22

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

Compensation 1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

Competition 1 Corinthians 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

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Law of Moses Is the whole body of the Mosaic legislation (1 Kings… Barnabas Son of consolation, the surname of Joses, a Levite (Acts… Apostle A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word… Harvest The season for gathering grain or fruit. On the 16th… Writing The art of writing must have been known in the… Temple First used of the tabernacle, which is called "the temple… Christ Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah"… Muzzle Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves… Cephas A Syriac surname given by Christ to Simon (John 1:42),… Gospel A word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e.,… Jesus (1.) Joshua, the son of Nun (Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8;… Grain Used, in Amos 9:9, of a small stone or kernel;… Moses Drawn (or Egypt. mesu, "son;" hence Rameses, royal son). On… Drink The drinks of the Hebrews were water, wine, "strong drink,"… Fruit A word as used in Scripture denoting produce in general,… Slave Jer. 2:14 (A.V.), but not there found in the original.… Games (1.) Of children (Zech. 8:5; Matt. 11:16). The Jewish youth… Crown (1.) Denotes the plate of gold in the front of…