1 Corinthians 9:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

Am I not a free man? Am I not an emissary of the Messiah? Haven’t I seen Yeshua our Lord? And aren’t you yourselves the result of my work for the Lord?

Berean Standard Bible:

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?

American Standard Version:

Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Am^{G1510} I not^{G3756} an apostle^{G652}? am^{G1510} I not^{G3756} free^{G1658}? have I not^{G3780} seen^{G3708} Jesus^{G2424} Christ^{G5547} our^{G2257} Lord^{G2962}? are^{G2075} not^{G3756} ye^{G5210} my^{G3450} work^{G2041} in^{G1722} the Lord^{G2962}?

Cross-References (KJV):

Acts 9:17

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 3:6

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1 Timothy 2:7

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, [and] lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Acts 9:3

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Acts 23:11

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

1 Corinthians 9:19

¶ For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Titus 1:1

¶ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

Commentary for 1 Corinthians 9:1

1 Corinthians 9:1 is a verse in which the Apostle Paul is defending his apostolic authority and rights to the Corinthian church. The historical context of this verse is embedded in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, where he addresses various issues within the church, including divisions, moral laxity, and questions about Christian liberty and practice.

In this particular verse, Paul employs a series of rhetorical questions to assert his legitimacy as an apostle. His first question, "Am I not an apostle?" directly challenges any doubts about his role and authority. Paul's claim to apostleship was unusual because he was not one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, nor was he directly appointed by Jesus during His earthly ministry. Instead, Paul's conversion and calling came after Jesus' resurrection and ascension, on the road to Damascus, where he had a vision of the risen Christ.

The second question, "am I not free?" touches on the concept of Christian freedom, a significant theme in Paul's writings. Paul is likely referring to his freedom in Christ, which includes the liberty to live according to the gospel without being bound by Jewish law or cultural expectations. However, he also emphasizes the importance of giving up personal rights for the sake of the gospel and the spiritual well-being of others, as he does throughout 1 Corinthians 9.

The third question, "have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?" is a claim to his personal encounter with the risen Christ, which was the basis of his apostolic authority. Paul's vision of Jesus was a transformative experience that led him to become one of the most influential apostles, spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

Finally, Paul asks, "are not ye my work in the Lord?" This question underscores his relationship with the Corinthian believers, indicating that their conversion and spiritual growth are evidence of his apostolic work and effectiveness. Paul's labor among them validates his apostolic status, as the existence and vitality of the Corinthian church stand as a testament to his divine calling and mission.

In summary, 1 Corinthians 9:1 is a robust defense of Paul's apostolic authority, emphasizing his personal encounter with Jesus Christ, his freedom in Christ, and the fruitfulness of his ministry among the Corinthians. This verse reflects the broader themes of apostolic legitimacy, Christian freedom, and the importance of considering one's impact on others in the exercise of that freedom.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G1510
There are 137 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰμί
Transliteration: eimí
Pronunciation: i-mee'
Description: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was. See also εἶ, εἴην, εἶναι, εἰσί, ἦν, ἔσομαι, ἐσμέν, ἐστέ, ἐστί, κέρδος, ἴσθι, ὦ.
Strong's Number: G3756
There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐ
Transliteration: ou
Pronunciation: ookh
Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
Strong's Number: G652
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀπόστολος
Transliteration: apóstolos
Pronunciation: ap-os'-tol-os
Description: from ἀποστέλλω; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
Strong's Number: G1658
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐλεύθερος
Transliteration: eleútheros
Pronunciation: el-yoo'-ther-os
Description: probably from the alternate of ἔρχομαι; unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability):--free (man, woman), at liberty.
Strong's Number: G3780
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐχί
Transliteration: ouchí
Pronunciation: oo-khee'
Description: intensive of οὐ; not indeed:--nay, not.
Strong's Number: G3708
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὁράω
Transliteration: horáō
Pronunciation: hor-ah'-o
Description: properly, to stare at (compare ὀπτάνομαι), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear:--behold, perceive, see, take heed.
Strong's Number: G2424
There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
Transliteration: Iēsoûs
Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.
Strong's Number: G5547
There are 530 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Χριστός
Transliteration: Christós
Pronunciation: khris-tos'
Description: from χρίω; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.
Strong's Number: G2257
There are 365 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἡμῶν
Transliteration: hēmōn
Pronunciation: hay-mone'
Description: genitive case plural of ἐγώ; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.
Strong's Number: G2962
There are 687 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κύριος
Transliteration: kýrios
Pronunciation: koo'-ree-os
Description: from (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.
Strong's Number: G2075
There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐστέ
Transliteration: esté
Pronunciation: es-teh'
Description: second person plural present indicative of εἰμί; ye are:--be, have been, belong.
Strong's Number: G5210
There are 228 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὑμεῖς
Transliteration: hymeîs
Pronunciation: hoo-mice'
Description: irregular plural of σύ; you (as subjective of verb):--ye (yourselves), you.
Strong's Number: G3450
There are 471 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μοῦ
Transliteration: moû
Pronunciation: moo
Description: the simpler form of ἐμοῦ; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.
Strong's Number: G2041
There are 161 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔργον
Transliteration: érgon
Pronunciation: er'-gon
Description: from a primary (but obsolete) (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.
Strong's Number: G1722
There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐν
Transliteration: en
Pronunciation: en
Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

This site was crafted entirely from the ground up—every line of code, every feature, and every design detail is the result of my dedication to creating a platform that connects you with God’s Word in a truly unique way. Thank you for visiting. - Faisal A.