Verses 1-2 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? 2 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.
The Apostle Paul asserts his position as an apostle or sent forth one who has been with Jesus Christ and therefore has the right to certain privileges as a servant of the LORD and a minister of the Gospel. The proof of his work and his effectiveness is the people in the church at Corinth.
Verses 3-6 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 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? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
The Apostle Paul is speaking to those in the church who would question or criticize his authority and his teaching. He was being a bit sarcastic and basically saying, “Do I need your permission and approval to eat and drink?” and “If you trust your women to my preaching and teaching, why are you not trusting me with financial matters?” Apparently, both the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Barnabas spent so much time working for the Gospel that they were financially surviving on gifts from fellow believers and not engaged in a job. Now Paul was a tent maker by trade and he did work when necessary, but the rich Corinthian believers apparently felt he should have a job as well as preach the Gospel. So the Apostle Paul is asking the Corinthian believers that as apostles, chosen and sent forth by the LORD Jesus Christ, did he and the apostles not have the authority (power) to determine how they received their financial support? Other apostles had families and wives such as the Apostle Peter, and other apostles did not work outside of the ministry as their financial needs were being met by the churches in which they ministered. But both the Apostle Paul and his co-worker, the Apostle Barnabas, had none of these things as they dedicated their entire lives to spreading the Gospel.
Application: Greed is a sin and a nasty spirit that often rises up in congregations so that workers in the Church receive scrutiny and criticism regarding financial matters. This should not be the case as Scripture clearly teaches that a worker is worthy of his wages. It is the responsibility of the people in a church to support their leadership so that the leadership can spend their time spreading the Gospel message and preaching/teaching the Word of God. And the leadership has to be accountable to God and to the believers for wisely handling the finances of both the church and of their own families.
Verses 7-10 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? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 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? 10 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.
In these verses the Apostle Paul uses examples of others who benefit from their labors: the soldier, the farmer, and the sheep herder all benefit from and are supported through the jobs they perform. He also points out that the Prophet Moses stated in the Law that workers should be paid for their labors, so that even animals working for mankind are entitled to receive payment for their labor in the form of food, shelter and appropriate care. So the preacher, teacher, evangelist, prophet and apostle should likewise benefit in a practical way from their work among people in spreading the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ. They should not have to be burdened unnecessarily to financially support themselves and their families. And if a church is in the will of God, He will provide for all the needs of both the leadership and the congregation.
Verses 11-12 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 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.
How did the Corinthian believers come to be pulled out of the idolatry and sin of their culture and be born again with the promise of life eternal in Heaven? Through the preaching of the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Barnabas. The apostles sowed spiritual things that are eternal and so it is reasonable to expect the Church to share material things that will fade and pass away. Yet the Apostle Paul states here that he did not use his authority granted by the LORD to insist that the Corinthian believers give to him and to Barnabas. They needed to give with a willing heart and not because they felt commanded to give.
Verses 13-14 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? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Application: In the Old Testament religious system put in place by God the workers or Levites in the Temple were paid for their labors by the offerings the people brought into the Temple. They were allowed to partake of specific meat and grain offerings that were brought by the people to be burnt on the altar. They were also given land to dwell on that was close to the Temple. They were given land in other towns and cities also and they and their families were supported by the religious system. The tithe was mandatory and not a suggestion. In the Church, the pastors are to be supported for their labors by the offerings the people bring into the various churches. This is how God expects His servants to be cared for. It is the responsibility of the congregations to make sure their pastor and his family have food, shelter, and all the other necessities of modern living so that they can dedicate all their time to the ministry.
Verses 15-17 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. 16 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! 17 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.
The Apostle Paul was serious when he wrote the words above. He would rather physically die than not be able to preach and teach about the LORD Jesus Christ whom he loved so much and for whom he dedicated all of his adult life in ministry. He was not looking to get rich at working in the ministry and spreading the Gospel. He was in ministry willingly and he knew that any reward he got in this life was in seeing people freed from the bondage of sin, death, and Hell, and that his reward in the next life would be to see Jesus face to face again and to hear the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Verses 18-19 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
The Apostle Paul never held large rallies or had religious conventions in which attendees were charged an entrance fee. He never wrote a book and charged people to read it. He never begged for money to build a church building. He never charged for anything that he did and he often gave to the churches from his own resources. He was only accountable to the LORD Jesus Christ and not to any men or women, yet he humbled himself and took no credit for all the churches he established as it was his only desire that people should be saved and brought out of the bondage of sin.
Verses 20-23 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
When he preached, he tried to relate to those he was ministering to in order to speak to them in a manner that they would understand. In his own words, he humbled himself and became a servant to all he encountered regardless of whether they were Jews or Gentiles, rich or poor. He did not come to a city, a town, or a village with prior advertising and great pomp. He was just a man who loved God so much and the people of the world that his only desire was to see people become converted and followers of Jesus.
Verses 24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9)
The Apostle uses a comparison of his work in the ministry with that of an athlete. Athletes train and have the mastery over their bodies for the purpose of being the one who wins the race and receives a prize that is perishable and insignificant. He and the other apostles ran a spiritual race to gain a prize that is incorruptible and will last forever: souls saved and approval from the LORD Jesus Christ. So all Christian believers should follow the example of the Apostle Paul and live their lives as if they are in a race and trying to gain souls and defeat the powers of darkness, a prize that is eternal.