1 Corinthianschapter 9
27 verses · BSB1 Corinthians book hub →
A.The Ox, the Soldier, and the Preacher's Wagevv. 1-14
1 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? 2 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. 3 This is my defense to those who scrutinize me: 4 Have we no right to food and to drink? 5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living? 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? 8 Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 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? 10 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. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you? 12 If 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. 13 Do 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? 14 In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
B.The Right Paul Refuses to Usevv. 15-18
15 But 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. 16 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! 17 If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. 18 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.
C.Free From All, Slave to Allvv. 19-23
19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 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. 21 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. 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. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
D.Run to Win: Discipline the Body or Be Disqualifiedvv. 24-27
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. 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. 26 Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. 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.
Chapter summary
Paul defends his apostolic right to support.
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Chapter summary
Paul defends his apostolic right to support.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Paul defends his apostolic right to support. A soldier goeth not a warfare on his own charges. Yet he uses not his right, lest he hinder the gospel. To the Jews he became as a Jew; to them under the law as under the law; to the weak as weak. All things to all men, that he might by all means save some. This I do for the gospel's sake. He runs not uncertainly, fights not as one beating the air; he keeps his body under. Calvin marks the apostle's self-denial for the gospel's sake.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.
Context
Epistle · Paul — 1 Corinthians overview
- A. 1–14 The Ox, the Soldier, and the Preacher's Wage
- B. 15–18 The Right Paul Refuses to Use
- C. 19–23 Free From All, Slave to All
- D. 24–27 Run to Win: Discipline the Body or Be Disqualified
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
1 Corinthians 96 verses
- 1 Corinthians 9:4Have we no right to food and to drink?
- 1 Corinthians 9:12If 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.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15But 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.
- 1 Corinthians 9:18What 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.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25Everyone 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.
- Read 1 Corinthians 9 →
2 Timothy 24 verses
- 2 Timothy 2:3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 2:5Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
- 2 Timothy 2:6The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
- 2 Timothy 2:10For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
- Read 2 Timothy 2 →
Romans 153 verses
- Romans 15:1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Romans 15:4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
- Romans 15:27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.
- Read Romans 15 →
2 Corinthians 113 verses
- 2 Corinthians 11:7Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
- 2 Corinthians 11:12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
- 2 Corinthians 11:15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
- Read 2 Corinthians 11 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
2 Thessalonians 32 verses
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- Read 2 Thessalonians 3 →
1 Corinthians 32 verses
- 1 Corinthians 3:6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
- Read 1 Corinthians 3 →
1 Thessalonians 22 verses
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
- Read 1 Thessalonians 2 →
1 Timothy 52 verses
- 1 Timothy 5:17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- 1 Timothy 5:18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
- Read 1 Timothy 5 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.