Never again eat meat, you've got to be kidding me!! That may well have been the response of some Corinthian Christians when they read the end of what we know of as chapter eight. After all, they had liberty; why should they do without? Paul's conclusion was to avoid the food if it makes my brother stumble. As a believer we are faced with this. My actions, even though I have the Christian liberty to do them may not be in the best interest to others. I can't stumble another believer.
In previous instruction, Paul had given them the restriction of eating meat sacrificed to idols. They had apparently rejected this instruction. Part of that rejection, may have been a rejection of Paul's authority. It may have been along the lines of, "We know idols are nothing, so what's the big deal?" Besides, who are you to tell us what to do? You aren't the boss of me!" Well, it probably wasn't exactly like that, but something along those lines.
As we enter chapter nine, Paul schools them on his call to be an apostle as well as teach that self-denial is part of the life of the Christian life. What was their attitude at giving up some of their liberty, in love for another? It was probably very similar to ours. We don't like giving up anything.
Paul uses his own life as an example of this Christian sacrifice. He had rights that he had willingly given up for them and for his call. Just like he had asked them to give up meat sacrificed to idols, Paul had also given up a lot so he could be a good testimony. He was being careful to never cause anyone to stumble. Because he was driven by love, he went to great lengths to make sure his life, his example, his teachings, his testimony and witness would never come between someone else and the Lord. Wouldn't the world be a different place if we all had that attitude?
1 Corinthians 9:1-2
Am I not an apostle?
Of course, Paul was an apostle but he starts building his case by establishing this fact. The Greek word was Apostolos; it was a delegate, a messenger, or one sent forth with orders. In this case it was one sent specifically by Christ with a purpose and a message. Apostles, by definition, received their ministry directly from Jesus. The life of an apostle was the kind of life you were called into. No man would take the beatings, abuse, stoning, jail time and threats he experienced in order to be a fake apostle. It was a ludicrous thought.
Am I not free?
Of course, Paul was free. He wasn't under the authority of anyone other than Jesus Christ. Philosophers defined free as unencumbered with false values as well as free from property concerns; making them self-sufficient. Paul was free from pursuing worldly wealth or wisdom; he was not encumbered with a desire for social status or power. This freedom is an integral part of being an apostle. We might consider if this should be an integral part of our life as a disciple.
Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?
Paul maintained that he saw the resurrected Jesus Christ. We know from his testimony he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. He may also have seen him in the Arabian desert. See Galatians 1:17 to consider that. As stated previously, an apostle, by definition received his calling directly from Jesus.
Are you not my work in the Lord?
The church in Corinth was Paul's work in the Lord. They were a labor of love from the beginning (Acts 18:1-11). They were part of the work for which he was created.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
[ The New King James Version (Eph 2:10). (1982). Thomas Nelson].
You couldn't look at the life Paul was living, the message he was preaching and the fruit of the ministry and conclude he wasn't an apostle. He was walking the walk; talking it; living it and his ministry was bearing fruit. The church of Corinth was just one example of that. However, there were some who refused to acknowledge the obvious. They rejected Paul as an apostle and Paul is letting them know they shouldn't. The presence of Christianity and a church in Corinth was a testimony to Paul's apostleship. They were the seal of his apostleship; the mark of authenticity. It is the same word used for a signet ring that was pressed into wax to seal a scroll. It is same word used of the seven seals on the seven scrolls in Revelation. For us we might relate it to the seal on a hundred-dollar bill. That seal is used to determine its authenticity. With the seal came the weight of power and authority of the originator. The church of Corinth could have worn a sign, 'created by Jesus Christ by the hand of the Apostle Paul.'
Whatever Corinth did, served to authenticate the apostleship of Paul.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
[The New King James Version (2 Co 12:12). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
1 Corinthians 9:3-7
Paul was being examined by some, as if they were looking for a reason to dismiss his authority.
It must have felt a little like he was on trial. He used words here that you would have used in a Roman court. 'My defense' is the word apologia. This is a verbal reasoning or argument. Paul gave his defense to those who examined him. "Those who examine' is one word and it means those who judge and interrogate; those who accuse, looking very closely.
What was the basis for their doubt? Traveling ministers, philosophers or speakers were paid to speak. They were professional in their endeavor and lived off their fees. Because Paul chose to work a job to provide for himself, they saw this as evidence he wasn't an apostle, as if working disqualified him. A similar attitude still exists today toward pastors who work. Paul was educated but not an orator; he probably preached in work clothes at times, his hands dirty and calloused.
Paul claimed his rights and would show that he used his freedom, not to claim the rights but to deny them.
- The workers had a right to be supported by the churches they served.
- It was the churches job to make sure they were fed and clothed.
- This responsibility was also extended to the wife of the servant.
These things were willingly offered to others. Others, along with their wife were being supported by the churches. It's interesting that Cephas, or Peter was mentioned by name here. Jesus' brothers are listed as James, Joses, Simon and Judas (Matt 13:55). Paul mentioned he and Barnabas were the only ones working to pay their way. It seems that the others had ceased from working a job and were being supported by the church. It's almost as if they don't respect Paul because he is still making tents while doing the work of an apostle. They apparently saw him as less legitimate because he wasn't being supported by the church.
Note: This mention by name of Peter having a wife is a confirmation that Peter was married. This messes up the catholic principle that Peter was the first Pope and that the popes were mandated to be celibate.
Paul gave some analogies for them to consider. No soldier went to war at his own expense. Soldiers were supported, clothed, fed and paid; often times they shared in the spoils. Paul had gone to war when he entered the culture of Corinth and brought the gospel message there. He compares the life of an apostle to that of a soldier.
Who would plant a vineyard and then not eat from the fruit? That would defeat the purpose, would it not? It's a natural assumption that the one planting the vineyard would partake of the fruit. The church of Corinth was a vineyard planted by Paul and he had a right to fruit from it.
Finally, he speaks of a shepherd tending a flock. Would he not drink from the milk of the flock? Of course, he would. There is an inherent right to some of the good things that come from the work.
1 Corinthians 9:8-12a
These weren't just Paul's beliefs or feelings. He wasn't trying to impose his principals or beliefs on them. This was a biblical, a God ordained principle; Paul went back to the law to prove his point. In Deuteronomy 25:4, right between 40 lashes and levirate law, is this passage Paul quoted; 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.' In those days the ox was hitched to some poles and a large mill stone. All day long the ox would tread out the grain and the mill stone would grind the grain. Muzzling the ox would keep it from eating while it worked. To allow the ox to eat was to provide humane and reasonable treatment to this servant beast. To deny the ox the grain was cruel, not to mention foolish from a physical standpoint. The animal couldn't continue without nourishment. Paul saw a principle of God applied to a servant. He asked, is it oxen God is concerned about? I like Warren Weirsbe's quip, "Since oxen can't read, this verse wasn't written for them." Paul saw it applied to the apostle, to those whose life had a calling. To deny that person support would be just as cruel as the ox treading out the grain while wearing a muzzle.
Imagine how disheartening and demoralizing it would be for the beast to tread the grain all day and never get a bite. If you've put your hand to the plow then you plow in hope. From that work done in hope the worker has a right to basic support. Like the ox deserved material benefit from grinding grain, so the pastor has the right to material benefit from the spiritual work. He who plows should plow in hope. If you thresh in hope you should partake in that hope.
Paul simply asked them if he and Barnabas had sown spiritual things for them. Would they find it offensive or objectionable if they received food and clothing? Others were receiving this support and if others received it then how much more should Paul and Barnabas have a right to that support.
1 Corinthians 9:12b-14
Others exercised their right to receive support and livelihood from the believers. It wasn't as if the Corinthian believers didn't support anyone. They already knew how this worked and even though Paul proved that it was his right and their responsibility to support him, he didn't use that right. He didn't ask for the believers to support him. Paul's point relates back to the previous chapter of meat sacrificed to idols. They had the knowledge and the right, but were asked to refrain due to the damage it could cause to others. Paul had the right but chose to deny that right due to the damage it could do to his message. Hearing Paul's message cost them nothing. Because of that, they dismissed it as less important.
I received some advice from a couple authors about publishing books on Amazon. It's a great ministry opportunity to self-publish and get your message in the hands of a lot of people. The advice was not to put your work out there for free – it will be viewed as having no value. Charge a dollar for it and it is then viewed as a bargain. This is the world's logic; the Corinthians had applied the world's logic to the Paul's message. The gospel is priceless, but not without price; it is of the greatest value, but free to you.
Paul compares his work to those who minster the holy things (13). The Levitical priests in the temple ate of the temple offerings. That was their portion and provision. The Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. In Matthew 10 Jesus was sending the twelve out to the lost sheep of Israel. They weren't to take anything with them, no money, no extra clothes, bag, staff or shoes. Jesus said in verse 10, a worker is worthy of his food. There was a clear expectation of this messenger receiving hospitality wherever he went. And if they didn't, they were to shake the dust of the town off their sandals and move on.
Paul was an apostle and he could have brought more pressure to bear on these folks. He could have used his authority to essentially force them to offer support. Up until now the church in Corinth refused to support him and Paul wasn't going to press it. His sole purpose of his ministry remained the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he didn't want to demand his right to support for fear that it might damage the gospel message. Paul's attitude was to 'endure all things' to keep from hurting his message. If that meant he had to make tents so that he could eat then that was what he did.
This was the kind of sacrifice an apostle made. It was the kind of sacrifice that mature Christians have to make. We don't always get to demand and receive the things we deserve. Sometimes we do without to further the gospel message to be a good witness with a good testimony. Unfortunately, many just hold this belief when applied to others, rarely themselves. Pastors are then living at a lower level than their congregations. While the pastor has to learn to live without, the congregation doesn't feel compelled to do the same for the pastor.
1 Corinthians 9:15-18
Remember the context of this chapter. Paul had just told the believers to give up meat if that's what it took to keep from being a stumbling block. Your 'right' to a liberty didn't mean it was the prudent thing to do. Paul wasn't writing about this to convince them to start sending him money. He is using it as an example of how a Christian sometimes has to give up what might be rightfully theirs for the kingdom message. Paul made his case to prove that he deserved this support. Now he is going to show them that he had given up his right to their support. Even though it was his right, he didn't feel like it was worth causing a problem and damaging the gospel message.
Paul's 'boast' was that he preached the gospel message without the support of the people he preached to. This might sound a little too proud to us. But remember the Greek culture. They looked down their nose at people who worked manual labor and got their hands dirty. Paul wasn't afraid of that. In fact, he was proud of it. That's his boast. He was able to work manual labor and still preach the message. This attitude would not have been popular among the wealthy who never worked; the same wealthy who offered financial support. The aristocrat were used to getting to make decisions because others desire for their money. Paul didn't mind offending their sensitivities. Dr. Craig Keener said this:
Far from pleasing all his hearers (9:19; cf. 10:33) here, Paul's explicit tactic of siding with the working class (9:12–15) would offend aristocratic-minded landowners who had never done any manual labor. His use of populist political imagery in 9:19–23 would further alienate this part of his constituency, which is the financial backbone of the church. Paul's priorities are reaching all people with the gospel, not satisfying the tastes of a societal elite.
[Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (1 Co 9:15–27). InterVarsity Press.]
Paul's boast was not for his glory, but to preserve the integrity of the message. He was quick to add that he had no boast in the preaching. The preaching came out of necessity, it was laid on him. He was called to preach and if he didn't it was like an itch that he couldn't scratch. He had to do it or it might drive him crazy. It's what God called him to and made him for. Paul said it was his calling and regardless of pay, he had to preach.
Paul would preach the gospel, no matter what. The question was whether he did it with support or without. Paul made the choice to preach and not receive support. He would receive a reward that would come later.
And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' [The New King James Version (Jn 4:36–37). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Paul chose to willingly defer his reward to preserve his message. But even if he had taken support, he was still a steward of the gospel. The message was the same. He was called to deliver that for which he was called. In Colossians Paul said he rejoiced in suffering for the sake of the church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, [The New King James Version (Col 1:25–26). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Itinerant orators gave impressive, moving and flattering speeches that they might be honored among the people and receive financial gifts from them. Paul carefully distanced himself from this idea. The message was not his, it was not to flatter or impress. It was a message of salvation and hope that would offend those holding to the world and its ways. It would not tickle the ear of the listener. The reward for Paul was to present the gospel of Christ without charge so that he could never be perceived as abusing his authority or call. Paul does not speak against those who received support as pastors, he speaks of his reason only.
The message was delivered by Paul with no strings attached. It was a message of forgiveness with no strings attached; from a God who gave grace beyond our imagination. It was the free gift of salvation and Paul kept it that way so there was no appearance of that message being for sale. We see examples in the New Testament where others were led to wrong thinking by the lure of money.
- Simon the sorcerer tried to purchase the works of the spirit. Even though you can see this same thing on "religious TV" nearly any evening, the works of the spirit aren't for sale.
- Ananias and Saphira loved money more than truth. Our culture has proven that you can buy court decisions; you can buy opinions; elections; polls; public opinion and so on. But you can never buy the truth, it's not for sale.
Paul wanted to distance himself from all others. He wanted to be extra careful not to abuse his authority in the gospel. He didn't want even a remote resemblance to the charlatans of his time.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Paul was free from all men. This freedom is an allusion to not playing to the masses, not controlled by money, power or influence in the culture. He did not worry about who was offended by his message and teaching about the kingdom of God. Paul was bound by no man, yet, he willingly made himself a servant to all. He went where God called him, spoke and served and persevered in all things; including the beatings and stoning that left scars. He had been all over, yet belonged nowhere, called no place home.
Paul served all to win more to Christ. He became as a Jew to the Jews, not in phony way, not playing a role or a part but acting out of respect for what they believed. When Paul went back to Jerusalem in Acts 21, he found that that some of the Jews were whispering about him. His ministry was to the gentiles and he had been away on his missionary Journey. When he returned, he brought the offering for the church and then took part in the Jewish purification ceremonies. This wasn't something Paul had to do. He chose to do it to connect with the Jews. He used his freedom wisely; choosing to limit it to reach others. For those that were living under the law, Paul respected the law without being burdened by it. He had Timothy circumcised in Acts 16, not because it was required for any reason but he did it out of respect for their beliefs, to make a cultural connection with them.
To the gentile, those not under the law, he didn't preach or display the law as something they must attain. Though God's law is written on the hearts of all men, they did not need the law to come to a saving knowledge of Christ. The law of the Father is fulfilled then in the Son. We are forgiven and saved from the penalty of law by the Lord's saving grace.
Paul speaks in terms of weak and strong in verse 22. He was willing to be 'weak' to connect to the weak and win them over. In the Corinthian setting, this meant not eating meat sacrificed to idols and causing the weak to stumble. To become 'all things' is not to day Paul is compromising his values in any way. He is simply willing to meet people in the setting of their life, being it rich or poor, educated or not, influential or powerless, religious, idolator or rank unbeliever. Paul went to great lengths to reach other men because he had a passion to offer this message of the good news to them.
Paul had the 'right' to live in one lane, avoid all others; to settle in a church somewhere and enjoy is days. He could just have easily said, "I have my liberties and I'm not giving up any of them. I have the right to eat what I want, when I want. I can worship when I want, where I want; anyone that doesn't agree with me just needs to figure it out." But that's not the heart of Paul. He gave up his rights to save others. His attitude is that of a grace and humility.
As a Christian we have to keep our eyes on Christ first and on others second, not on ourselves and what we want. Being a Christian, we can't blindly grab all the liberties available regardless of cost.
This idea of 'all things to all people' is also one that gets a lot of abuse. It's used as an excuse to go to inappropriate places in the name of becoming all things to all people, that I might save some. It's not a ticket to compromise your principles or a free pass to sin.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
We know that Greece has a long history of sporting events. The Olympic Games were born there and in Paul's time they had the Isthmus games. If you wanted to compete in these games you trained for months in advance. You became keenly aware of the meaning of self-sacrifice. You didn't enter the games just to compete for the sake of competing. No one entered and planned on finishing last. You entered to win because only one received the prize. Paul point was if you are going to run, run like you mean it. Run the race like you are serious about it. Run your race in such a way that you might obtain the prize.
The words used refer to a specific race on an actual course used in those times. The stadium was 606 feet 9 inches long, exactly. Everyone ran the same race, on the same course, on the same distance. To compete was to enter into the arena; the word is 'agonizomienos'. It's voluntarily entering into the agony of this competition.
- You trained your body and mind.
- No pain, no gain.
- You had to be temperate in all things.
- You didn't train for an hour and then pick up a couple Big Mac's on the way home.
- To be 'temperate' included not eating unwholesome food, drinking wine, or any sexual indulgence. The Greek Stoic Philosopher, Epictetus wrote about this temperance. He said:
"Would you be a victor in the Olympic games? so in good truth would I, for it is a glorious thing; but pray consider what must go before, and what may follow, and so proceed to the attempt. You must then live by rule, eat what will be disagreeable, refrain from delicacies; you must oblige yourself to constant exercises at the appointed hour, in heat and cold; you must abstain from wine and cold liquors; in a word, you must be as submissive to all direction of your master as to those of a physician."
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- The temperate were self-governed or self-controlled. Doing whatever they had to do to make sure they would compete at top performance.
- All they did or didn't do was to benefit them in the race, so that they might win the prize.
If they completed and won, they got a crown. They stepped before the Herald or judge of the race and he announced their name and the town from which they came, much like the Olympics today. They stepped forward to the podium to get their prize. In celebration of their months of training and hard work, they were given a wreath or crown made of celery leaves. An athlete's whole life was geared toward the race; and when you won, they gave you a wreath made of celery leaves! It was a crown that would shrivel up and die in a few days. They did all that work and discipline for a perishable crown.
Paul ran with no uncertainty; he knew what was at stake. It was for the eternal soul of men, women and children whether they understood that or not. The uncertainty in this race isn't who will win, our uncertainty is the race itself. Paul establishes the highest order of business as the gospel; to have it undermined with self-indulgence was like an athlete running for last place. The crown we will receive is far greater than a wreath of leaves.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
[The New King James Version (2 Ti 4:7–8). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
This crown isn't for our glory, for we have no boast but that which is in Christ Jesus. Our crown is His crown, it's His glory because He could take a wretch like me and crown him with righteousness. It's Christ's great victory. Our crown is a celebration of Him:
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 "You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."
[ The New King James Version (Re 4:9–11). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
In Corinth the race was marked out to 606 ft 9 inches. It was 303 ft, 4 and a half inches down and then back. In our race, the course is revealed to us a little at a time. In our race, many times we take our next step in faith with our eyes fixed on Jesus. We don't really know where our race will lead us. We don't really know how long the race is but we can be sure where it will end up. We end up standing before the Lord where he will declare us victorious and grant us an eternal crown.
What would the world be like if Christians were willing to be temperate? To run our race with perseverance and diligence all the way to the end?
- To be engaged in the race in an effort to serve others, win them for Christ.
- To be temperate, surrendering many of our rights for the benefit of the gospel.
- To be self-governed and self-controlled.
- To be willing to give anything or all things to win others.
Paul sees all the hard work and sacrifice as an analogy for us. However, the race we run is for an imperishable crown. This is a crown that will last forever and ever.
Paul then also using a boxing analogy. Boxing in the games was a brutal and bloody sport. One who beats the air is a shadow boxer; no one ever lost a match to a shadow. Shadows don't punch back. Paul's fight was for keeps, not shadow boxing. Instead, he was disciplined, self-controlled so as not to be disqualified. How would Paul be disqualified? When his life displayed something inconsistent with the message he brought. Over and over, I hear concerns about life situations; marriages, families, salvation issues. Yet the message is disqualified by the life displaying it. You can say Jesus saved you and claim in him, but no one is listening if your life doesn't display grace, sacrifice, suffering and above all, love.
The games in Paul's day celebrated the human body. Runners ran naked, many times oiling their bodies to make them more appealing. This is much like what you see in a body building contest. The body was celebrated. Famous athletes had statues made of them and poems were written about their victory, their form and bodies. Paul said he disciplines his body. He was not training the body to perform. He was training the inner man to control the body so the flesh didn't rule him.
Verse 27 said, when I have preached to others; this word 'preached' is the same word used for the herald of the race in Corinth. He was the man who announced the contest, the rules, and he told who was running and what town they were from. Then he started the race and made sure it was fair and then declared and crowned the victor. Paul saw himself in that role as a herald in this world. He was showing believers then and now that we are in a race. There is a race to be run and a crown to be won. Paul ran the race himself and he ran in a way that he wouldn't become disqualified by the rules of the race.
This race has eternal consequences. Paul is dealing with something much bigger than whether one ought to eat a steak from the local temple restaurant. The Corinthians were focused on rights – Paul is trying to shift that focus, adjust their vision to the bigger picture. We must live our live with our eyes on Christ first and then on our brother second, not on ourself. If you're worried about your right:
- to meat offered to an idol
- drinking alcohol
- Smoke or chew
- buy lottery tickets
- Or, draw support or not from the church.
- Or any other 'right' we grasp in in our Christian liberty that draws away from the validity of the gospel.
If you are worried about these things, then you're not running a race tempered to victory in Christ. The tempered race is one of sacrifice. It's letting go of some of the things we have liberty in, or right to, so that others might be won to Christ.
©2006, 2010, 2016, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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