Read the Passage: 1 Corinthians 9

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: 1 Corinthians 9

Paul’s Defense (9:1–18)

Beginning at 1 Cor. 9:1, Paul shifts from a discussion of eating meat sacrificed to idols, to which he’ll return at 1 Cor. 10:18, to a defense of his own ministry. Moreover, since he had just taught on Christian liberty in chapter eight, here in chapter nine Paul uses his own life to illustrate his teaching. It seems the main issues about which Paul was being questioned were his apostolic authority (cf. 1 Cor. 9:1–2), his diet (cf. 1 Cor. 9:3–4), his marital status (cf. 1 Cor. 9:5), and his means of financial support (cf. 1 Cor. 9:6–14). In regard to his authority, Paul rhetorically asks, “Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?” (1 Cor. 9:1). This was both a requirement for apostleship (cf. John 15:27; Acts 1:21–22) and an allusion to Jesus’ call on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9:1–19). Furthermore, Paul writes the Corinthians themselves had experiential knowledge of his apostolic ministry.

It seems the matter of Paul’s financial support was an issue for the church, as there were some present who questioned Paul’s right to refrain from bi-vocational work (cf. 1 Cor. 9:6), while there were others who objected to the idea of his being supported by the church (cf. 1 Cor. 9:11). In this passage Paul gives an important principle concerning ministerial work—that is, God’s servants can reasonably expect to be supported by God’s people. In this passage Paul initially argues this point from common sense, as he points out that soldiers, vine-dressers, and shepherds receive their livelihood from their own work (cf. 1 Cor. 9:7). Next, Paul supports his teaching by quoting an Old Testament law, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain” (Deut. 25:4). With his illustrations and this Bible citation, Paul’s point is simply that in every realm of life, workers are supported by their own labor.

Although it was reasonable for Paul to expect to be financially supported by the believers in Corinth, he reminds the church, “Nevertheless, we have not used this right . . . lest we hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:12). Before explaining why he ministered to the Corinthian church without compensation, Paul gave two additional reasons why those in ministry can draw income from their labor. First, Paul reminds his readers that the pattern within the Old Testament sacrificial system was for the priests “to partake of the offerings” (1 Cor. 9:13). Second, Paul teaches, “The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14; cf. Luke 10:3–7). In 1 Cor. 9:15–18, then, Paul explains the reason why he served in Corinth without financial support is because it brought him sincere joy, which was his reward for fulfilling Jesus’ calling upon his life.

Paul’s Pattern (9:19–23)

As Paul writes further about his own pattern of ministry in 1 Cor. 9:19–23, he describes himself as a “servant to all” (1 Cor. 9:19), by which he was likely referring both to his voluntary service in Corinth and to his willingness to adapt his presentation of the gospel message, but not its content, in various contexts. In this passage Paul mentions three groups to whom he was continually ministering: Jews (or those with the law), Gentiles (or those without the law), and the weak (or those with an incomplete understanding of the gospel). As he ministered to these groups, Paul notes that his goal was “not [to] hinder the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:12), but rather, as he repeated states, “to win the more” (1 Cor. 9:19), to “win those who are under the law” (1 Cor. 9:20), to “win those who are without law” (1 Cor. 9:21), and to “win the weak” (1 Cor. 9:22)—all “for the gospel’s sake” (1 Cor. 9:23).

Paul’s Reward (9:24–27)

Earlier, at 1 Cor. 9:15–17, Paul wrote specifically that his reward for preaching the gospel was sincere joy and self-satisfaction at fulfilling the stewardship with which he’d been entrusted. Now, at 1 Cor. 9:24–27, Paul writes generally about the reward available to all believers. This reward, which is imperishable, entails the same joy Paul had experienced, as well as eventually being commended by Christ for one’s faithfulness. Observe Paul’s emphasis on self-control in this passage as he stresses the importance of temperance (cf. 1 Cor. 9:25), certainty (cf. 1 Cor. 9:26), discipline (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27a), and subjection (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27b). In the context of this passage, it is possible the disqualifying event that Paul had in mind here was ministering solely for financial gain, which betrays the twin sins of greed and covetousness, which will disqualify one from ministry (cf. 1 Tim. 3:3).

Application Questions:

1. Has anyone ever questioned your ministry? How ought believers to respond when their service is critiqued by others?
2. How should churches determine the salaries of their staff and pastors? Is it okay to serve in a bi-vocational capacity?
3. At what point is it reasonable for a new church to begin financially supporting its own pastors?
4. How can we wisely adapt the presentation of the gospel without sinfully changing the content of the gospel?
5. How can someone in full-time Christian service monitor their own heart to be sure that they are not in ministry for money?