1 Corinthians9

Paul vigorously defends his apostleship and his inherent right to financial support, citing both divine ordinance and common sense. However, he voluntarily foregoes these privileges, choosing to preach the gospel without charge to avoid hindering its spread. He explains his missionary strategy of becoming "all things to all men" to win souls, and concludes by urging believers to exercise self-discipline, like athletes, to secure an incorruptible reward.

Paul's Defense of Apostolic Authority and Rights

1
Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? haue I not seene Iesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my worke in the Lord?
2
If I be not an Apostle vnto other, yet doutlesse I am vnto you: for ye are the seale of mine Apostleship in the Lord.
3
My defence to them that examine mee, is this,
4
Haue we not power to eat and to drinke?
5
Or haue we not power to lead about a wife being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6
Or I only and Barnabas, haue not we power not to worke?

The Principle of Ministerial Support

7
Who goeth a warfare any time at his owne coste? who planteth a vineyarde, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke?
8
Say I these thinges according to man? saith not the Lawe the same also?
9
For it is written in the Lawe of Moses, Thou shalt not mussell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: doeth God take care for oxen?
10
Either saith hee it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should eare in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
11
If wee haue sowen vnto you spirituall thinges, is it a great thing if we reape your carnall thinges?
12
If others with you bee partakers of this power, are not we rather? neuerthelesse, we haue not vsed this power: but suffer all things, that we should not hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13
Doe ye not knowe, that they which minister about the holy things, eate of the things of the Temple? and they which waite at the altar, are partakers with the altar?
14
So also hath the Lord ordeined, that they which preach ye Gospel, should liue of the Gospel.

Paul Waives His Right to Boast of Selflessness

15
But I haue vsed none of these things: neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done vnto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my reioycing vaine.
16
For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to reioyce of: for necessitie is laid vpon me, and woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
17
For if I do it willingly, I haue a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed vnto me.
18
What is my reward then? verely that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authoritie in ye Gospel.

Becoming All Things to All People

19
For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all men, that I might winne the moe.
20
And vnto the Iewes, I become as a Iewe, that I may winne the Iewes: to them that are vnder the Lawe, as though I were vnder the Lawe, that I may winne them that are vnder the Lawe:
21
To them that are without Lawe, as though I were without Lawe, (when I am not without Lawe as pertaining to God, but am in the Lawe through Christ) that I may winne them that are without Lawe:
22
To the weake I become as weake, that I may winne the weake: I am made all thinges to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.
23
And this I doe for the Gospels sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Discipline and the Race for the Prize

24
Knowe ye not, that they which runne in a race, runne all, yet one receiueth the price? so runne that ye may obtaine.
25
And euery man that proueth masteries, abstaineth from all things: and they do it to obtaine a corruptible crowne: but we for an vncorruptible.
26
I therefore so runne, not as vncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.
27
But I beate downe my body, and bring it into subiection, lest by any meanes after that I haue preached to other, I my selfe should be reproued.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options