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Timothy: I Corinthians 9:1-14
The Rights and Sacrifices of the Apostle Paul in His Service – Part 1

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You. You are the Almighty God and my Father in Heaven. Every day, I rely on Your love and grace. Your faithfulness covers me, making me always peaceful and content in all situations. I am thankful to You, Father. I pray to Christ for new strength. I ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten my spirit. I thank Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Father, I would like to present my reflection on I Corinthians 9:1-14 as follows:

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?

Verse 1: Perhaps Paul wrote this passage in response to the slanderous words of some false teachers in the Church in Corinth at that time. They criticized and spoke ill of Paul, claiming that he was not an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. They believed that if Paul accepted the Gospel after the Lord Jesus Christ ascended, he could not be an apostle of the Lord. The four questions Paul raised in verse 1 all have the same answer, which is an affirmation: Yes.

Paul was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, called by Him and witnessed by Ananias. Paul was a Jew but had Roman citizenship. He was both free in the Lord and a free citizen of the Roman Empire. No one had the right to compel him to do something he did not want to do. He had seen the Lord Jesus Christ several times and received the Gospel directly from Him. The Church in Corinth was the result of his evangelism.

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,

Verses 2 and 3: Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, but he assumed that even if he was not an apostle to others (such as those who spoke ill of him), he was still an apostle to the people of God in the Church in Corinth. The obvious truth was that the people of God in Corinth believed in the Lord and belonged to the Church of God because of the preaching of the Gospel by Paul. This was strong and sufficient evidence for Paul to defend his apostolic authority against the false accusations of the false teachers or the judgment of anyone regarding his apostolic office.

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?

Verses 4 to 7: Paul mentions some legitimate rights and freedoms that he and his fellow worker Barnabas have as they preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas deserve to be welcomed and supported by local Churches, even if they bring their wives along. They do not need to work for a living, as it is the responsibility of the Church to take care of their physical needs. Just as soldiers are paid, vineyard workers eat grapes, and shepherds drink the milk of their flocks, the deserving ministers of God should receive everything they need from the people of God to meet their physical needs.

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.

Verses 8 to 10: The words that Paul speaks are not just based on the principles of human justice but also on the laws of God. Even an ox that treads the grain is allowed to eat the grain it treads, according to the laws of God. Therefore, the meaning of the commandment that says not to muzzle the mouth of the ox is also applied to those who serve God in His Church. Those who work hard do so with the hope of receiving the fruits of their labor. Those who work with hope deserve the results of their work. Paul is referring to the Church in Corinth as the field of God that he and Barnabas are plowing and treading upon. They are preaching the Gospel and bringing people who believe in it into the Church of God. The two of them deserve the rewards of their hard work, with hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Verse 11: Paul and Barnabas brought the Gospel of Salvation to the people of God in Corinth. Therefore, if they received material support from those people, it would not be unreasonable.

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.

Verse 12: In Corinth, many people were provided for by the Church for their material needs, but some were undeserving, especially the false teachers. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas deserved more material support from them than those people. However, Paul emphasized that he and Barnabas did not require the Corinthian Church to provide for them, even though they had every right to do so. They would rather endure hardship and difficulty than burden the Church and hinder the preaching of the Gospel.

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.

Verses 13 and 14: The Old Testament clearly records that the Levites who served in the Temple of God and their families received the offerings of the people of God and ate the sacrifices offered to God. Jesus Himself also instructed His disciples not to carry silver, money, or personal belongings when they went out to preach the Gospel. Instead, those who listened to the preaching of the Gospel would provide for their needs. Jesus said, “for the workman is worthy of his meat”.

Father, through the words of Paul to the Church in Corinth that I reflected on today, I felt the enthusiastic heart of serving God, serving the Church, and passionately preaching the Gospel to those who do not yet know Christ from Paul and his companions. I hope to follow the example of Paul and faithfully serve God, serve my brothers and sisters in the Church, and passionately bring the Word of God to many people. Please grant me more grace and strength, Father. Please keep me steadfast in faith and faithful in my duties. Thank you, Father. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
05/10/2023