THE BIBLE SPEAKS TO OUR CONDITION A look at 1 Cor 9

INTRODUCTION  Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth is written to help them deal with issues that are affecting the fellowship of the Church  This letter is both instructive and corrective in nature  We understand that the brethren there had written to him in the past with various questions (cf. 1 Cor 7:1)  Paul’s goal in this letter is to go through and address these concerns  As we study this chapter let us all open our minds and seek the understanding Paul desires for all Christians (both then and today)

PAUL ADDRESSES CRITICISM (VS 1-14)  As we look at the questions Paul raises and answers, we can see he had experienced criticism from some in Corinth  Kindly, gently, and firmly he responds to this criticism and explains the rights he has and defends his apostleship and authority as a speaker from God Paul’s rhetorical response to those who question (“Examine”) his apostleship (vs 3) 1 Cor 9:1-2 “Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.”

PAUL ADDRESSES CRITICISM (VS 1-14)  Kindly, gently, and firmly he responds to this criticism and explains the rights he has and defends his apostleship and authority as a speaker from God The right to the necessities of life 1 Cor 9:4 “ 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?” The right to take a wife 1 Cor 9:5 “ 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?” The right not to perform secular work and be compensated for their work in the Lord 1 Cor 9:6-7 “ 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?”

PAUL ADDRESSES CRITICISM (VS 1-14)  Kindly, gently, and firmly he responds to this criticism and explains the rights he has and defends his apostleship and authority as a speaker from God Paul explains that it is not merely he that is stating these rights but that God has already declared this to be so 1 Cor 9:8-10 “ 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

PAUL ADDRESSES CRITICISM (VS 1-14)  Kindly, gently, and firmly he responds to this criticism and explains the rights he has and defends his apostleship and authority as a speaker from God Paul uses a greater-to-lesser argument to justify his right to allowance…if he has supplied Spiritual things (The greater) to the Corinthians, surely he ought to receive material things (the lesser) from them in return 1 Cor 9:11 “ 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?” Paul uses a lesser-to-greater argument to support his right to a living wage…if those who presently labored physically (lesser) received a wage, how much more than the one who has labored spiritually (greater) 1 Cor 9:12 “ 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.” This same message applies to those who labor in the Lord today 1 Cor 9:13-14 “ 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL (VS 19-23)  Paul adapted both his conduct and his presentation of “The Good News” to various classes and conditions to effectively communicate to them the truth of God’s love, whether Jews, Greeks, pagans etc. 1 Cor 9:19 “ 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;” 1 Cor 9:20a “ 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews;” 1 Cor 9:20b “to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;” 1 Cor 9:21 “ 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;” 1 Cor 9:22a “ 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.” 1 Cor 9:22b “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”  All things done by Paul for the advancement of the Gospel 1 Cor 9:23 “ 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”  Imagine the impact we could have if we had this same compassion and desire to advance the Gospel to all today

SELF-DISCIPLINE IS ESSENTIAL (VS 24-27)  Paul was familiar with the great athletic events of his day and uses athletic terminology to describe the self-discipline necessary to be effective in spreading the Gospel We should run like track members looking to obtain the prize (The gifts of God) 1 Cor 9:24-25 “ 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” Instead of fighting like a boxer who swings with haymakers, we should fight with great certainty to win our battle with evil “26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” Paul reminds us we must be rigidly discipline ourselves lest the evil around us cause us to act in such a way that disqualifies us from the race

CONCLUSION  If we are living a Christian life, we are destined to face criticism…we cannot allow it to discourage and defeat us  Paul shows us we must adapt our presentation of the “Good News” to meet the needs of each individual we communicate with Note: the presentation is adapted, the message remains the same  Voluntary self-discipline is essential for the person who wants to be a productive follower of Jesus Christ