CHAPTER 9

(A.D. 59)

PAULS APOSTLESHIP

¹Am I not an Apostle? (The idea is not so much to defend his Apostleship, as it is to show how he has abnegated his own rights in order to be a proper example to others.) am I not free? (Being free, he has liberty, but he did not use that liberty in every case, even as he will further discuss.) have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? (This refers to the Vision on the Road to Damascus [Acts 9:3, 17; 22:7-8].) are not you my work in the Lord? (The Fruit was abundant!)

²If I be not an Apostle unto others (meaning that some in the Early Church did not regard Pauls Apostleship), yet doubtless I am to you (the Corinthians knew, or at least should have known, he was an Apostle): for the seal of my Apostleship are you in the Lord (presents Paul using an example which was undeniable).

A NORMAL LIFE

³My answer to them who do examine me is this (those who question his Ministry),

⁴Have we not power to eat and to drink? (He could have asked them for financial help. He had every right to do so, but didnt, even though others who had no right did.)

⁵Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the Brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (The Churches, it seems, helped other Apostles with expenses, but Paul asked for none.)

⁶Or I only and Barnabas (presents Paul mentioning Barnabas after the quarrel [Acts, Chpt. 15], which shows the Apostle regarded him with love and esteem), have not we power to forbear working? (This means to give up the manual labor by which he maintained himself.)

⁷Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? (The idea is if a soldier would expect to receive rations and wages from the Government he is serving, a Minister of the Gospel should expect the same.) who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock?

⁸Say I these things as a man? (This presents Paul making the case that his statements are not merely his own thoughts, but are rather of God.) or saith not the Law the same also? (This refers to the Law of Moses, and is given in the next Verse.)

SUPPORT

⁹For it is written in the Law of Moses (Deut. 25:4), you shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn (presents basically what Jesus said in Lk. 10:7). Does God take care for oxen? (If the Lord cares for a lowly beast, and He certainly does, would He not do much more for those who are taking His Gospel to the world?!)

¹⁰Or said He it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he who plows should plow in hope; and that he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

¹¹If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (The pronoun we proclaims the fact that the argument applies not only to Pauls own case, but as well to all Preachers of the Gospel.)

¹²If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? (It seems these other Teachers, whomever they may have been, were well paid, while Paul received nothing.) Nevertheless we have not used this power (this privilege); but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ (that which should ever be foremost in the heart and mind of every Preacher of the Gospel).

¹³Do you not know that they which Minister about Holy things live of thethings of the Temple? (This pertains to the Old Economy of God, which Paul is using as an example.) and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar? (This pertained to certain portions of the Sacrifices given to the Priests [Num. 18:8-13; Deut. 18:1].)

¹⁴Even so has the Lord ordained that they which Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. (The idea, as is obvious, is that those who Minister in spiritual things should be supported financially by those to whom they Minister.)

¹⁵But I have used none of these things (he had the right to be supported financially, but he never exercised that right, except in a limited way): neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me (as well, hes not making these statements in order to spur the people to send him offerings): for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. (In essence, this says he would rather die than stoop to such a level as that. To do such a thing would be manipulation, which the Lord can never bless.)

¹⁶For though I Preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of (within himself; even though he is an Apostle, boasting of these gifts is out): for necessity is laid upon me (the Preaching of the Gospel is not merely a choice on his part, but rather a Command from the Lord); yes, woe is unto me, if I Preach not the Gospel! (This proclaims an overwhelming moral compulsion.)

¹⁷For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward (the reward comes from the Lord): but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. (The word dispensation means administration or stewardship. It actually refers back to the Parable of the Talents [Mat. 25:14-30]. In other words, the Preaching of the Gospel must never be looked at in any manner except that we give it our very best. Otherwise, we will lose the reward.)

¹⁸What is my reward then? (This is different than the reward of Verse 17.)Verily that, when I Preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge (a price must never be put on the Gospel), that I abuse not my power in the Gospel. (The Preacher must make double certain that he does not exploit the people, but rather that he edify the people.)

PAULS POLICY

¹⁹For though I be free from all men(Christ is Lord and Master, not man), yet have I made myself servant unto all (a voluntary submission, which is the Way of the Spirit), that I might gain the more. (This is Gods Way. Men rule, but the Lord serves! We must emulate our Lord.)

²⁰And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews (Paul describes here the innocent concessions which arise from the harmless and generous condescension of a loving spirit); to them who are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gain them who are under the Law (him having Timothy to be Circumcised is a perfect example [Acts 16:3]);

²¹To them who are without Law (Gentiles), as without Law, (being not without Law to God, but under the Law to Christ,) (being under the Law to Christ satisfies every Law of God; it is simple Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross) that I might gain them who are without Law (gain the Gentiles).

²²To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak (refers to Paul not availing himself of some of his Christian Liberties simply because of the possibility of causing weak Christians to stumble): I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (As stated, he is speaking of innocent concessions, never of compromising the Gospel.)

²³And this I do for the Gospels sake (the Gospel of Christ being the only means of Salvation, it must take first place in all things), that I might be partaker thereof with you.(This is the love every Preacher ought to show.)

CONDITIONS

²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. (In athletic events, only one receives the prize. However, all who run for Christ, spiritually speaking, win the Crown. There are no losers!)

²⁵And every man who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. (The Apostle is saying we should let the athlete striving and training to win a temporary crown be a lesson to us Christians regarding diligence.) Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (If they will do such for the corruptible, how much more should we do the same for the incorruptible?)

²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly (all Believers who run and continue to run, spiritually speaking, are certain of winning); so fight I, not as one who beats the air (the Apostle now switches from the metaphor of running a race to boxing; he is not fighting uselessly, but rather the good fight of Faith, which speaks of Faith anchored exclusively in the Cross; regrettably, far too many Christians in this Christian endeavor are simply beating the air):

²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (which he does by understanding that all victory is in the Cross): lest that by any means, when I have Preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (This means that even if a man is a Preacher of the Gospel, if he doesnt look to Christ and the Cross, and ever make the Cross the emphasis, he will conclude as a castaway, i.e., disapproved. The Lord has one way of victory, which is the same for both Preachers and the laity. It is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.)