Taught 8/30/2009
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Love & Liberty
Open your Bible to…
1Cor. 8:9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Pray
Intro
√ Love & liberty
If you’ve ever read through the book of 1st Corinthians you may have been as perplexed by chapter 9 as I once was!
Up to this point in the letter Paul’s been rolling along providing instruction, correction, and insight to help his friends at Corinth to resolve their conflicts.
In chapter 8, and then again in chapter 10, Paul deals specifically with the question of food offered to idols.
However, in chapter 9 it seems like Paul kind of went off on a tangent as he writes a defense of his ministry and calling as an apostle!?
However, what seems at first glance to be a interruption in the middle of his discussion about food offered to idols…
…is really an illustration of the principle he just wrote about in chapter 8!
“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Chapter 8:9
Well, in chapter 9 Paul uses himself and his method of ministry as an illustration of how a mature believer should forego his liberty for the sake of the weaker person.
Ap. The mark of spiritual maturity
The mark of spiritual maturity is love…
Love for God and love for other people.
Every day we will have opportunities to demonstrate our maturity in Christ by choosing to place others before ourselves…
Their needs
Their weakness
Their spiritual health
In fact it is a requirement for those seeking leadership positions in this church that they manifest an other-centeredness for without that attitude they cannot properly minister to God’s people.
Paul’s Calling (vs. 1-6)
1Cor. 9:1 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?
1Cor. 9:2 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.
1Cor. 9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this:
1Cor. 9:4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?
1Cor. 9:5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Cor. 9:6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
√ Paul’s calling
It may seem strange to us in the 21st Century that Paul had to defend the authenticity of his calling as an apostle.
After all here’s a guy who saw Jesus after he had ascended to heaven, was taught by Jesus, who healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons and led tens of thousands to faith in Christ!
Yet, we find in a number of Paul’s letters in the New Testament that he was forced to present evidence that he was in fact an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Such is the case here in chapter 9 of 1st Corinthians and again in 2 Corinthians 10.
The issue at Corinth that caused some to reject Paul’s authority was his insistence upon working with his own hands to provide for his needs and those who ministered with him.
In the Greek culture of the 1st Century Greeks, like the Corinthians, despised manual labor.
They hired or bought slaves to do their manual work so that they could enjoy sports, entertainment, study and debating philosophy.
So, the fact that Paul performed manual labor (making tents) rather than living off of the support of the church caused some to doubt his authority.
√ Paul’s rights (freedom)
So, here in chapter 9 Paul uses the opportunity afforded him by the topic of spiritual maturity to answer his critics by showing them that his choice to work rather than receive support from the Corinthians was an act of love and spiritual maturity.
Foregoing his “rights” as an apostle to receive support so as not to hinder the advance of the Gospel.
Thus we read…
1Cor. 9:4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?
1Cor. 9:5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Cor. 9:6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
The word “right” is the Greek word exousia, also translated “liberty” or “freedom” as it is in our opening text…
“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”
Chapter 8:9
So Paul’s point here to his critics is that it is his right (freedom, liberty) as an apostle of Jesus to receive compensation for his work for the kingdom…
...and, just because he didn’t excersise that right didn’t mean that he wasn’t an authentic apostle.
√ Paul’s resume’
In verses 1 and 2 Paul gives a brief defense of his credentials proving that he was an authentic apostle, note his resume’…
He’d seen the risen Lord ~ Acts 1:22 (a witness of the Resurrection).
His ministry was marked by the fruit of the Holy Spirit ~ specifically those who were born-again in Corinth as a direct result of his ministry.
He ministered with a pure motive as evidenced by the fact that he did not ask for support before sharing the Good News with them.
Not to mention that the Holy Spirit confirmed his calling and message by performing miracles through him!
His point is that while others might have cause to question his calling because they’d never met him…
…the Corinthians of all people should know without doubt that he was the real deal because their transformed lives were the proof of his calling!
So, the fact that he worked with his own hands to support his ministry did not negate the authenticity of his calling as some suggested…
…rather, it proved his pure motive for ministry.
Ex. The Didache (“dideki” = “teaching”)
A somewhat controversial ancient document dated to the late 1st Century or early 2nd Century ~ interesting for this reason…
It provides instructions for the Church as to how to distinguish between a true and false apostle/prophet.
Guess what one mark of a false apostle is?
“And when the apostle goes away, let him take
nothing but bread until he lodges; but if he ask money, he is a false prophet.”
So, it would appear that the early Church caught on to Paul’s teaching and ministry style and recognized the wisdom of his counsel…
…specifically that while an apostle has the right to receive support from the Church that a true apostle would never demand it.
Ap. Testing motives
Paul’s defense is a good reminder that we can, and should, test a person’s motivation for ministry by whether or not they demand compensation.
If a man won’t step out to serve the Lord until, or unless, he gets paid to do so then it’s a strong indication that he isn’t called to serve.
For example, in John 10:12-13 Jesus tells us that the difference between a true shepherd and a hireling is that the hireling is just in it for the money while the true shepherd is there for the sheep.
Ap. Extra credit
Vs. 5 is one of many scriptures that affirm the fact that Jesus had half-brothers (and sisters), which destroys the false teaching of Mary’s perpetual virginity and other false doctrines associated with that false claim.
Common Custom (vs. 7)
1Cor. 9:7 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?
√ Common custom
In verses 7-14 Paul gives 5 illustrations from life and scripture that prove his point that it was his right as an apostle to receive support from the Church.
His argument was meant to counter the accusations of his critics who pointed to his tent-making as evidence that he was not an apostle.
His point is that even though he didn’t exercise his right to receive support from the church that that in no way undermined his authority and calling as an apostle.
So, his first illustration was to point out that it was customary to compensate workers from their labor.
Ex. 1st Century workers
Roman soldiers received a regular salary but also were entitled to a share of the spoils when they had to lay siege to a city.
Likewise those who worked in a vineyard owned by another person were entitled to a share of the crop at harvest time.
Shepherds who watched over goats belonging to another person were entitled to a share of the milk produced.
Therefore the person who works for the Lord should be extended the same privilege to a share of the material blessings generated by the goodwill of those who receive him.
So, because Paul had invested himself in the work of God there in Corinth he reminded his critics that he was entitled to receive material compensation…
…and just because he chose not to did not mean he wasn’t an apostle.
Ap. Ministering in Africa
We chose to cover our own costs and that of the pastors who could get to the conference.
We met some initial resistance from some of the pastors who were used to American pastors who demanded to be compensated and taught a “prosperity” doctrine.
One little church tried to give me all they could muster so that the blessing they desired would be given “wings” to fly quickly from the Lord!
They were initially offended that I wouldn’t take their money but after hearing the clear teaching of the Bible realized that we were teaching a more accurate doctrine than they had previously heard.
Old Testament Law (vs. 8-10)
1Cor. 9:8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
1Cor. 9:9 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?
1Cor. 9:10 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.
√ Old Testament Law
Next Paul points to the Law in the Old Testament to provide a Biblical basis for sharing material blessings with those who do the work of the Lord.
The verse Paul quotes is Deut. 25:4.
What’s interesting about the verse is that to our Western way of thinking it seems totally out of place in the chapter.
Read chapter 25 of Deuteronomy and you’ll discover that it has nothing to do with animals or farm techniques!
Rather, it is all about human relationships and what is just compensation for a person who has worked for, or been wronged by another.
The point of the verse, which Paul captures here in vs. 9 & 10 is that God isn’t speaking about oxen…
…rather He’s using a Hebrew proverbial expression to reinforce the idea that the worker should be compensated justly for his labor.
Ex. English proverb
When someone says to you…
“You can’t teach a old dog a new trick”
…you understand that they aren’t talking about dogs!
It’s simply a proverbial expression that communicates that people who are stuck in their ways are not likely to change.
So, Paul gives the Corinthians and us the proper interpretation of Deut. 25:4 and rightly applies it to our own lives reminding us that the servant of God has a right to eat from the harvest of his hard work.
New Testament Practice (vs. 11-12)
1Cor. 9:11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
1Cor. 9:12 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.
√ New Testament practice
Paul moves from Old Testament Law to New Testament practice to show that in churches all over the world in the 1st Century that there was already an established protocol regarding the giving on honorariums.
Specifically he reminds them that they themselves were already supporting other itinerant ministers with financial gifts!
Note vs. 12…
“If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?”
His point is that since they didn’t have any problem supporting guys like Peter and Apollos then why would they have an issue supporting Paul and Barnabas?
Especially in view of the fact that the other apostles and preachers invested very little time in the church at Corinth…
…where as Paul had invested years in their lives!
His point of course is that while he did have the right to receive their support just as they had supported others…
…none the less the fact that he didn’t ask for, nor accept their financial help, was no reason to reject his authority in their lives.
Old Testament Provision (vs. 13)
1Cor. 9:13 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?
√ Old Testament Provision
Paul’s next line of argument was to go back to the Old Testament and show that God provided for the servants who did His work in the Temple.
His example comes from the book of Numbers, chapter 18:8-32.
There you’ll read God’s instructions to the people to give a portion of each sacrifice to the priests so that they can be fed.
They got a portion of the meat, wine, grain and whatever other gifts were brought to the Lord.
Therefore, if God provided for those who did the work of the Temple through the gifts brought by His people…
…then shouldn’t those who do the work of God spreading the Good News also receive a portion of the gifts brought into the Church?
Jesus’ Teaching (vs. 14)
1Cor. 9:14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
√ Jesus’ teaching
Well Paul saved his best argument for last, his Crux de Gra, and that is that Jesus Himself taught that those who do His work are entitled to share in the material blessings of those they minister to!
Note…
Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
Luke 10:8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
And…
Matt. 10:10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
While the Corinthians didn’t have a New Testament (it was still being penned) they had almost certainly heard from the other disciples what Jesus had taught on the subject.
In view of Jesus’ teaching the Corinthians would have to agree that Paul, who was the first to preach the Gospel of Jesus to them…
…had the right to be supported by them in his continuing work to spread the Good News.
Yet, while he had proven to even his harshest critics that he had the right to ask for their support, none the less he chose not to so that he would not stumble the weaker believer…
“Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.” ~ vs. 12
Paul’s concern as a mature believer was that he not do anything that might be misunderstood by those young in their faith…
…and even those who had not yet believed.
So he relinquished his rights as an apostle and servant of Jesus by refusing any material support from the Corinthian church.
By so doing he provided a living example of how the mature Christian should act toward those with a weaker faith.
In context with his previous instructions he is in effect saying…
“If I can give up my God-given rights as an apostle, then certainly you can give up your freedom to eat meat offered to idols.”
Close
√ Love and liberty
Do you see yourself as a mature Christian?
The proof is found in your willingness to put others first.
To be willing to lay aside your “rights” so that you can minister to others.
Do you believe you’re called to full time ministry?
Don’t wait for a paycheck!
Often times you’ll just have to pursue God’s call on your life and trust that he will take care of your needs!