1 Corinthianschapter 9

Speaks with:1 Corinthians 9×7 2 Timothy 2×5 Romans 15×3 2 Corinthians 11×3 2 Thessalonians 3×4 1 Corinthians 3×2

Summary

Chapter summary

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.

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

The outline

A.The Ox, the Soldier, and the Preacher's Wagevv. 1 to 14
Read vv. 1 to 14 →
B.The Right Paul Refuses to Usevv. 15 to 18
Read vv. 15 to 18 →
C.Free From All, Slave to Allvv. 19 to 23
Read vv. 19 to 23 →
D.Run to Win: Discipline the Body or Be Disqualifiedvv. 24 to 27
Read vv. 24 to 27 →

The world behind this chapter

1 Corinthians 9

When

Paul's third journey, writing from Ephesus · c. AD 54–55

Where

Paul's defence of himself, and the athletic games held near Corinth.

Who first heard it

Corinthians who read his refusal of financial support as an insult or as proof he was not a real apostle.

The history

Patronage ran the ancient world. A wealthy man supported a teacher, and the teacher's presence brought the patron honour; both sides gained. Refusing that support was not humility in Corinthian eyes — it was a rejection of the relationship, and it implied the would-be patron was not worthy. It could also suggest the teacher knew he was not worth paying.

Paul insists at length that he had every right to be supported — soldiers, farmers, shepherds, and the priests who ate from the altar all live from their work, and the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should live by it. Then he says he has used none of these rights.

His reason is freedom. Taking money would have obligated him to a patron's interests and given rivals a handle. Working leather in a shop instead kept the gospel free of charge, and that, he says, is his boast.

The athletic imagery would have landed hard in Corinth, which hosted the Isthmian Games, one of the great festivals of the Greek world, every second year. Runners, boxers, strict training regimes, and the perishable wreath given to the victor were local knowledge, not distant metaphor.

What it meant to them

For a status-conscious congregation, this chapter modelled what the previous one demanded: a man with unquestioned rights refusing to use them for the sake of others.

It also explained his flexibility — becoming as a Jew to Jews, as one outside the law to those outside it — which critics could read as inconsistency. He calls it the discipline of a runner who does not want to be disqualified after preaching to others.

Sources cited

Bruce W. Winter, After Paul Left Corinth
F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free

Every work MannaFest builds on →

The text of this chapter

This page carries no textual note on 1 Corinthians 9. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →

This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.

Study this chapter

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 →