1 Corinthians 9:1-17

(1 Corinthians 9:1-17)

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?  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.  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? 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? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 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? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?  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?  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.  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?  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.  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?  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.  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.  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!  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.

 

Some people in the Corinth area reproached Paul and refused to acknowledge his authority over his apostolate. Paul actively defends his position in Chapter 9 against these criticisms and attacks. Paul gives two reasons as the basis for asserting the justification for his apostolate. One is that they have seen the risen Christ, and the other is that the Corinthians heard the gospel they preached and became Christians. For this reason, it makes sense for members of the Corinthian church to acknowledge their apostolate, even if people in other regions do not recognize Paul as an apostle.

 

Paul reveals the right he deserves as an apostle. Paul says that he has the right to eat and drink, which is the most basic right of man, and he says that although he had the right to receive material aid for his livelihood from the Corinthian church he founded, he did not claim that right. It is said that Paul himself, like the other apostles, also had the right to marry. Speaking of the right to support for work, he says, it is a common right for the apostles to receive living expenses from the church, but he and Barnabas did not use that right either. He talked about the right of the soldier to be paid, the right of the owner of the vineyard to harvest, and the right of the shepherd to milk and drink the sheep. There is no problem, but he is speaking of not enjoying the right.

Subsequently, he revealed that not only the rights that other apostles enjoyed in real life at that time, but also the Bible justly recognized those rights. In particular, quoting Deuteronomy 25:4, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. 』
Paul stresses that it is natural for humans to be rewarded for work, even cattle are guaranteed by the law to be rewarded for work.

 

As such, Paul reveals that he was the first founder of the Corinthian Church and did not want to enjoy or claim the right even though he could claim the right to material support from the Corinthian church more than any other person. In doing so, he gives a clear reason for the ability to lay down his rights. 『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. 』

 

Paul says he did not use the right to claim and enjoy, fearing it would be an obstacle to preaching the gospel. Jesus said in Luke 10:7, "And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 』Said. Jesus said that just as the Old Testament priests lived by being born in the temple, so those who preach the gospel should live with the support of those who heard the gospel. That is why Paul was able to ask for living expenses from the members of the Corinthian church as much as he could, despite the general circumstances that other apostles enjoyed at that time, in light of the Old Testament words or what Jesus said, but Paul did not. Paul gave up the right he deserved of himself in order to ensure that no one could ever get in the way of preaching the gospel or be put to the test.