1
Corinthians Chapter 9.
9:1-23. Paul
exemplified in his own ministry the denial of personal freedom and rights that
he may win others to Christ. The welfare
of others must govern our use of freedom.
9:24-27. In the
Christian conflict, Paul did not dissipate his energies aimlessly, but
disciplined all his powers to gain the prize.
Paul's apostleship 1-2;
The rights of an apostle 3-7;
The law witnesses to the preacher's right
of material support 8-12;
Further proof
of the preacher's claim to support
12b-14;
The reason why Paul had
not insisted on this right to be supported 15-18;
Paul gave himself to those among whom he preached
that he might win them for Christ 19-23;
This conduct appeared inconsistent to some. "Consistency cherish"(W.A.White); Paul's
seemingly inconsistent conduct was governed by one great purpose.
The need of discipline.
9:24-10:13.
a/ Christian purpose
9:24-27. Pep without purpose is piffle;
b/ Presuming on
Privileges 10:1-13.
The main
lesson of chapter 9.
Paul illustrates from his ministry the commendableness of
foregoing our personal rights that we may more effectively help others. It was not, then, Paul's main aim in this
chapter to defend his apostleship or to defend the preacher's right to be
supported, though incidently he provides instruction of these matters. His main intention is to provoke his readers
to walk in love and this he does by his own example. However, he may have had reasons to defend
his apostleship and missionary practice.
Some were ready to discredit his apostolic work so he, as it were,
"kills two birds with one stone."
Those who sought to discredit his apostleship grew more
vigorous and in 2nd Corinthians Paul was much occupied refuting them. However, just now, the majority continued to
recognize his ministry. But Paul makes
use of the opportunity to bring before them the character of his ministry.
The main lesson is that the welfare and edification of
others should be placed before personal rights.
This was his guiding principle in all his missionary activity. It was this that gave integrity and
consistency to his seemingly inconsistent conduct. Some criticized for giving up his right to
support and for accommodation himself in different ways to different people,
and they suggested he was a man-pleaser, a trimmer, a western cock. But Paul insists that in all this he was
impelled by one great motive. At least
four important points stand out in this chapter:
1/ The main lesson is
that the welfare and salvation of others demands the sacrifice of personal
rights and liberties.
2/ The chapter is important for evangelism. It is the "Classical Chapter" on
"Soul winning." It tells how
Paul won them for Christ. His approach
was one of friendliness, toleration, service, humility and purpose.
3/ The chapter
insists on the right of Christian ministers to be maintained. Paul very fully illustrates this right. The Church must feel in a practical way the
obligation to maintain its workers - in the same practical way that an employer
must realize his obligation to maintain his employees.
4/ The chapter shows
the great need of purpose in our life and service.
Paul the
spiritual athlete. 9:24-27.
a/ The
occasion of his illustration:
Paul's evangelistic ministry had been the subject of adverse
criticism. They said his methods
revealed a shifty fellow, a turncoat, a man who dances to every tune and courts
the favour of every party. Paul was sensitive
to such criticism, and was aware his methods gave some occasion for it. But, despite the seemingly inconsistency, he
had all along been impelled by one great dynamic principle, to make the gospel
available to all men. This resolve and
purpose, to make the gospel free to all, had not been an easy one. It meant discipline, deprivation, and
hardship. Paul strove to bring others to
Christ as if his own salvation depended upon it. He did not run zig-zagedly nor box aimlessly.
b/ The need
for discipline: The goal demanded a
"total effort." Only the
discipline, consecrated and well trained athlete gains the prize. Paul admired the discipline practiced by the
athletes.
c/ The nature
of the prize: It is incorruptible. How much more deserving of every effort than
fading, corruptible crowns or men.
A Paraphrase: Paul speaks concerning himself, so we shall
paraphrase it in the first person:-
9:1. You Corinthians
boast of your freedom and cling selfishly to your rights, insisting on using
them, even though it is hurtful to others.
It is better to forego your freedom than to harm your more sensitive
brother. This very thing I have myself
followed in regard to you and it has all along been the governing principle of
my ministry. Whatever freedom you claim,
I also have had much more, for I am an apostle with all its authority and
privilege. The necessary credential of
an apostle is to have been an eyewitness of the Lord in resurrection and in
this I am not behind any of the apostles, for I have seen the Lord.
9:2-3. You
Corinthians should be most ready to count me an apostle for your conversion to
Christ is the mark of the authenticity of my apostleship. They who criticize the reality of my
apostleship make the most of the fact that I support myself by working with my
hands. I am discredited because I did
not use my right as an apostle to be supported by you. My critics carp, "Should an apostle
work?" The ugly suggestion is that
I did not use this privilege of my apostleship and its attending privileges.
9:4-5. We have every
right to eat and drink at the church's expense.
We could rightly have taken with us on our journeys a Christian wife,
and had her supported at the church's expense.
This is the general practice followed by Peter and other apostles, and
the brethren of the Lord, who since their conversion have come to have a
prominent place in the Church.
9:6. If, the other
apostles are maintained in some recognized manner at the church's expense, then
surely Barnabas and myself have also this right. We did not labour with our own hands because
we had no right to cease working, rather we had every right to claim support
from you. For it is an accepted principle that they who give themselves to
evangelism and pastoral ministry, should be supported from the church's funds.
9:7. This practical
arrangement can be illustrated from various callings and occupations of men,
such as the soldier, the vine dresser and the shepherd. Do they not all eat of the product of their
labour and have first title to it.
9:8. Should anyone
think that analogies from everyday life are not relevant, then, note that it is
a principle of Divine Law. It is a basic
principle of the Law that labour rendered gives an indisputable right to
reward.
9:9. This principle
is far reaching and comes down to every level, for the Law instructs us that
even the ox, the brute beast has a right to a portion of that in which he
labours, and must not be muzzled when he treadeth out the corn.
9:10. It is proper to
observe in this law, a principle we can apply today to those who give
service. We can be sure that, when God
made such a kindly provision for oxen, He had
a deeper and more far reaching lesson.
All Scripture is for our instruction, and throughout its pages there are
lessons to guide and encourage us, that we may labour in hope, knowing the
industrious worker is worthy of reward.
Look at the man who ploughs and the man who threshes, is not the common
hope of reward and substance the motive of their labour. The labour knowing that he who labours is
entitled to reward.
9:11. We have also
laboured, sowing to you spiritual things from which you reap great spiritual
gain. Is it then too much to expect to
reap of your carnal things.
9:12. Others have
argued this authority over you, taking material support from you. Have not we, then, a better right, for you
owe to us the knowledge of the gospel.
But we did not use our right, ourselves bearing the full burden, not
only preaching the gospel to you, but working to support ourselves. We follow this course that we not hinder the
process of the gospel of Christ. We are
concerned that no complaint be made that we evangelized for personal profit.
9:13. That ministers
of spiritual things should be supported by the offerings of the congregation is
a principle that had all along been recognized.
It is an established practice in the sacred things. Look at the temple service of the Old
Covenant, those who ministered at the altar were allotted a share that was considered
rightfully theirs. It was the alter
itself from whence they derived their living.
9:14. Moreover, did
not the Lord Jesus ordain while here, that those who proclaimed the Gospel
should live off the Gospel. (Matt.10:10; Lk.10:7-8). It is beyond dispute that the preacher of the
gospel has a right to look to the Church for support, and this is a right the
Church must recognize.
9:15. But I did not
use this right, and don't imagine for a moment that in writing this, that you
should burden yourselves with the responsibility of my support. Even though I be accused of a streak of
pride, I would choose death, rather than give up my boast, that I preach the
gospel freely and do not make it a means of personal profit.
9:16. The preaching
of the gospel gives me no ground for merited reward. I, in the task of preaching the gospel, am
under a Divine compulsion. Dreadful and
miserable would my life be if I did not preach the gospel. Since to preach the gospel is something I do
not do of my own choice. I claim no
reward, but submit to the inescapable obligation of the Lord.
9:17. If my calling
to preach the gospel had been my own choice, then I should be entitled to
reward and would expect such. Clearly
I would not choose such an occupation except to earn a reward - pay for service
done. However, not my choice, but God's sovereign
compulsion has entrusted me with a stewardship to preach the gospel freely to
the nations.
9:18. Then, I have
nothing in the way of a reward, and if in some way I am rewarded, what is the
nature of that reward? True, I have a
reward and it is this, that when I preach the gospel I do not make full use of
my right in the gospel, that the gospel be free to all. I am paid, I have my reward in the giving up
my right to material support, that the gospel be free of charge to those who
hear it.
9:19. I am free from
all men and in debt to none but my refusal to use my rights is no proud
independence, nor worldly snobbery. Rather it is that I may be free to become a
servant. To become the servant of others
for the sake of the gospel has meant for me the sacrifice of personal rights
and freedom, but it allows me to win some that I could not otherwise win.
9:20. I have
discovered that one of the basic principles of evangelism is to be willing to
see things from the other man's point of view.
To the Jew I become a Jew, and to win the Gentiles, I made myself like
them. Because of this, some accuse me of
being a weather cock, a trimmer, a man-pleaser, and making myself all things to
all men. But my defence is that the
successful soul winner must be able to get alongside men and think and feel as
they do. Only the man with largeness and
a sympathetic heart and capacity to make friends can help others.
When it is a matter of essential principle of truth and
conduct, I know how to stand firm. No
man can justly accuse me of disloyalty to Christ, rather it is for Christ's
sake that I accommodate myself to all men.
I respect the Jew and his scruples and avoid offending his traditions,
especially regarding such things as food and numerous other trivial things. When, then, I have social intercourse with
Jews, who are zealous for the Law, I live as they do, not myself feeling under
obligation to legal requirements, but I avoid offending my friends that I may
win them for Christ.
9:21. To the
Gentiles, who never have been under the Law, I do not keep myself aloof by
living like a Jew, but follow their social customs in all things, that are in
themselves morally indifferent as concerns the Law of God and loyalty to
Christ. It is this loyalty to Christ
that compels me to sacrifice my rights that I may win others to Christ, but it
is also loyalty to Christ that restrains us from making such accommodations
that would harm the spiritual good of others.
9:22. Far from
despising the weak I think an essential part of my ministry to show the
sympathy and understanding, to be ready to help them avoid hurting their tender
feelings and scruples. It has been my
method with all men, whoever they be. I
seek to become as they are, that by some means, even by these means, some shall
be saved.
9:23. In all this I
have not acted inconsistently, but in consistency with my commission to preach
the gospel. It is from loyalty to the
gospel that I have made such sacrifices, and I strive to bring others to Christ
as if my own salvation depended upon it.
Indeed, it is a token to me of effectually sharing in the blessings of
the gospel in the day of judgment.
Beware then, you who are strong, lest your indifference to the salvation
of others, be the token of your disqualification in that Day.
My evangelical methods have been criticized, I have been
charged with inconsistency, a weathercock that turns with every wind, a
turncoat, a shifty fellow who dances to every tune, and courts the favour of
every party. I am particularly sensitive
about this kind of criticism, for I am only too well aware that my conduct
gives some occasion for my critics to think that way. But, I insist that despite my seeming
inconsistency, I have all along been guided by one great principle.
To those who criticize me, my defence is, that it has been
this purpose to make the gospel available to all men that gives consistency to
my method of evangelism. This decision
to make the gospel freely available to all, has not been an easy one, but I run
the race that requires discipline, hardship and concentration on the goal. I have not acted like a man with no goal and
who runs zigzag. But like the runner who
strives to win the race, so I strive towards the goal. My illustration will not be lost on you Corinthians,
so well acquainted with your famous Isthmian Games, and who count time in
Olympiads. You all know that though
several run in a race, only one receives the prize.
9:25. The prize
cannot be gained except by a supreme effort, backed by long discipline and
training. Look at the athlete, he must
exercise self-control and restraint in all things that he might achieve the
goal he has set his heart on, though it be merely a corruptible crown of pine
leaves. But we seek an incorruptible
crown, the crown of righteousness, of life and of glory. If they strive so strenuously to gain a
fading wreath, how much more should we who seek one that never fades nor
withers.
9:26. As one who has
made his decision and has no uncertainty as to the goal, so I run. The goal is clear and, with all the strength
God gives me, I press towards it. I
have freely spoken in the first person that you might learn from me and not to
insist on your rights, nor presume upon your privileges, but rather, to become
fully aware that the Christian life demands constant discipline as we
untiringly press on to the goal.
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