One Year Journey Through the New Testament
1 Corinthians 9
Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!
A Pattern of Self-Denial
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.
(1 Corinthians 9:1–18, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul lists several things that confirm his status in the kingdom. He affirms his own right to eat and drink anything he would like. He affirms his right to bring a wife with him on his journeys. Yet, he works with his hands and pays his own way without the best accoutrements. He quotes the law that one should not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.
- Yet, Paul does not use this right. He endures lack so that the gospel of Christ is not hindered. He again affirms that those who preach the gospel should also live from the gospel.
- But he reminds them that he has used none of these things. He does not preach the gospel because he chose to, but he was called to it, constrained and entrusted with a stewardship. This is a privilege, and will not be abused.
Serving All Men
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
(1 Corinthians 9:19–23, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul once more asserts his freedom from all men, yet has made himself a servant to all, that he might win more.
- He speaks of being like those before him in order to win all men. Jewish to a Jew, Greek to Greeks, Roman to Romans. This does not mean to compromise holiness or to change one’s worldview, simply to identify and meet them where they are so that you can bring them to where they need to be.
- Do this for the gospel’s sake. Don’t condemn the lost. Reach the lost, see the lost saved and delivered by the power of Christ!
Striving for a Crown
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
(1 Corinthians 9:24–27, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- The final thing Paul addresses in this chapter is the need to strive for a worthy crown.
- He reminds the reader that all run, but only one wins the crown. Run hard. Aim to win. Discipline yourself so you can compete.
- However, this is a physical crown that will not last forever.
- Run for an imperishable crown that will last forever in heaven. Run with purpose. Aim well and hit the target. Discipline yourself so that you may win. Do not be disqualified, but run hard and win.
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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.
Devoted To You 