Rights, Responsibilities and Self-Discipline

1 Corinthians 9 (can be read in its entirety here) is a chapter focused on the concept of Christian liberty and the responsibility that accompanies it. Paul uses his own apostolic rights and ministry as an example. He speaks on things that he has forgone as an apostle that he has the rights and freedom to.

Paul proceeds to give four arguments supporting why those in ministry including himself have the right to be supported by the people they minister to.

First, he begins by comparing himself to other apostles, servants of God (v 1-6). He asks a few rhetorical questions: Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Are you not the evidence of the work of my apostleship? Do we not have the right to food, drink and family? He asks these especially keeping in mind those who were judging him and questioned his apostleship. Paul was a tentmaker, in Acts 18, we see that he worked to support himself. But he lays out an argument that if the other apostles and ministers have the right, does not have the right for all of those things too.

Second, Paul gives examples of varied human situations and experiences (v 7). People either get paid for their work like soldiers or have a portion of their own labour as their payment as vineyard owners and shepherds do.

Third, Paul supports his points with scripture . “Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?  Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?”(1 Cor9:9-11) 

Paul speaks of Deuteronomy 25:4 and explains that being remunerated for your work is not just a worldly principle, but a Biblical one as well. If the law of Moses provided for the ox, how much more does a minister of the gospel deserve to be fed and supported.

Fourth, Paul shares what the Lord said, “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:14). “No bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep”(Mathew 10:10). “Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages”(Luke10:7)

Just as those who serve at the temple have a share in the meat sacrificed on the altar, those who preach the gospel ought to be supported by the same.

Paul then applies what he spoke of, by saying that he has the right as an apostle to be supported by those in the body of Christ. But even though he has the right, he has not used this right. Paul’s reward in preaching was not material things but he did what he did without expecting anything in return. God always provided for him. This does not mean that Paul never accepted support, we read in other parts of scripture where those in the body of Christ did help him in various ways and times. Paul was pleased to preach the gospel without charge and remain free from obligations to others. Considering that those in the Corinthain church were challenging his apostleship, we garner why Paul chose to do so here as he did not want the gospel message he preached to be clouded by doubts with the authenticity of the reasoning for his ministry.

This chapter concludes with Paul emphasising his willingness to adapt his behavior to connect with different people, even becoming “all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). What this does not mean is that we can compromise with the truth in scripture or God’s standard in order to fit in with the world. But rather not be rigid in letting go of trivial aspects of familiar ways and use wisdom and discernment in how to approach someone to best relate to them the Love of Christ.

Paul urges the need for self-discipline and endurance in the Christian life by using athletes in training as an analogy (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  Paul is not casual about his spiritual life and cautions his readers to not be the same too. To not be complacent or skate too close to sin but to regard our time and opportunity to serve God and live out what the Lord has purposed for us with intentionality and fervor.

God Bless.