1 Corinthians 9: Rights Laid Down
Paul defends his apostleship yet shows how he surrenders his rights, becoming all things to all people and disciplining himself to win the race.
1 Corinthians 9 (WEB)
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?
2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this.
4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
5 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
8 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,
10 or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
11 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
12 If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
15 But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.
17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
19 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
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.
22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23 Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.
25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,
27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
1 Corinthians 9 (KJV)
1 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?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9 (ASV)
1 Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 My defence to them that examine me is this.
4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
5 Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?
7 What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,
10 or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking.
11 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
13 Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?
14 Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.
17 For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.
18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.
19 For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23 And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.
24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.
25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
Summary
Paul presents himself as a living example of the love that limits liberty. He is free and an apostle, having seen the risen Lord, and the Corinthians themselves are the proof of his ministry. He defends the right of gospel workers to be supported—soldiers, farmers, and shepherds all live from their labor, the law of Moses says not to muzzle the ox that treads the grain, and the Lord himself ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should live from it. Yet Paul has refused to use this right, choosing to preach the gospel free of charge rather than put any obstacle in its way; he would rather die than have anyone empty his boast. Compelled by necessity, he preaches without seeking reward, and his reward is the joy of offering the gospel without charge. Free from all, he has made himself a servant to all, that he might win more people: to the Jews he became like a Jew, to those under the law like one under the law, to those without the law like one without the law, and to the weak he became weak—becoming all things to all people so that by all means he might save some. He does it all for the sake of the gospel, that he may share in its blessings. Finally, he compares the Christian life to a race and a fight: athletes exercise strict self-control for a perishable prize, but believers run for an imperishable crown, so Paul disciplines his own body lest, having preached to others, he himself should be disqualified.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle who proves his ministry, defends his rights, then voluntarily surrenders them, becoming all things to all people to win some for Christ.
- The Corinthian believers — The seal of Paul's apostleship, the fruit that proves the genuineness of his calling and labor.
- The weak and the lost — Jews, Gentiles, and the weak whom Paul adapts himself to reach, that by all means he might save some.
- Christ the Lord — The Lord who ordained support for gospel workers and for whose sake Paul gladly forgoes his rights and disciplines himself.
Key Verse
1 Corinthians 9:22 (WEB)
To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
Lessons Learned
- Gospel workers rightly deserve support, yet may freely give up that right.
- Love willingly surrenders legitimate rights for the sake of others' salvation.
- Reaching people may require us to adapt to them without compromising the gospel.
- The Christian life calls for the self-discipline of an athlete running for an imperishable prize.
- Rights can be freely surrendered. “We did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12, WEB). Love gladly lays down what it could rightfully claim.
- Become all things to win some. “I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22, WEB). We flex our preferences to reach people for Christ.
- Run to win. “Run like that, that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24, WEB). The Christian life is to be pursued with focused, wholehearted effort.
- Discipline the body. “I beat my body and bring it into submission” (1 Corinthians 9:27, WEB). Self-control keeps us from undermining the message we proclaim.
- What rights does Paul argue that he and other gospel workers legitimately have?
- Why does Paul choose not to use his right to financial support?
- What does it mean to become all things to all people, and what are its limits?
- How does the image of an athlete in training describe the Christian life?
- What legitimate right or comfort might God be inviting you to set aside for the sake of someone who needs the gospel?
- Paul argues from common life, the law, and the Lord's own command that those who preach the gospel may live from it (9:7-14). Establishing the right makes his choice to forgo it all the more powerful as an example of love.
- He refuses support so that nothing will hinder the gospel or let anyone accuse him of preaching for money (9:12, 15-18). His freedom from payment frees the message itself, and his reward becomes the joy of giving it without charge.
- Paul adapts to Jews, Gentiles, and the weak, meeting people where they are to win them (9:19-22), yet always remaining under the law of Christ. The flexibility is in method and preference, never in the truth of the gospel.
- Athletes train rigorously and deny themselves for a fading prize, so believers should pursue Christ with even greater discipline for an eternal one (9:24-25). The Christian life is not passive drifting but purposeful, self-controlled effort.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a comfort, preference, or right they could lay down to build a bridge to someone far from Christ, following Paul's example. As leader, keep the tone of joyful sacrifice rather than grim duty.