The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
August 14
1 Corinthians 9:1-18
Commentary by Nick Boork
August 14
1 Corinthians 9:1-18
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August 14 ~ 1 Corinthians 9:1-18
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? 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. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 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? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 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?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
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? 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. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 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. 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? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In this portion of Paul’s letter he answers questions concerning the legitimacy of his ministry. Some were raising questions like; Why do you have the right to tell us to do anything? When I was a kid my sister Tracy and I would fire off to each other; “Who died and left you boss”. This same kind of attitude and questioning happens in ministries and churches today. So Paul qualifies his apostolic ministry in a few profound statements:
Some Bible scholars argue that the eleven apostles made a mistake by appointing Matthias as the replacement for Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus then hanged himself. I do not believe it was a mistake because part of the criteria that would qualify you to be one of the original group of twelve apostles also known as the apostles of the Lamb was following Jesus from the baptism of John in the wilderness until the day he ascended in front of their eyes and returned to the father in Heaven that sent him. Acts 1:21-22 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Obviously, Paul did not follow Jesus from the earliest days of his ministry but rather was an persecutor of Christians till the day he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:3-6 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
This is the experience Paul constantly testified about to everyone. He refers to seeing the Lord Jesus after he arose from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
So the Lord made a special trip to reveal himself to Paul and called him to be an apostle directly! Wow, now that is powerful! Seeing and hearing the glorified Christ were burned into Paul’s mind and heart. He would never forget this experience uses it here to defend his call to the ministry saying “Am I not an apostle, have I not seen the Lord?”
Next he says I may not be an apostle to others but doubtless I am to you because now, through my preaching you are “In Christ.” The word seal in the Blue Letter Bible means: that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated, as by a seal (a token or proof). Paul says this is the ultimate seal of his apostleship. He came to town, preached, people were converted to Christ and formed into a new church. Before Paul came to Corinth there was no church but after he left there were a group of new born again believers meeting together in Jesus name to worship the Lord. This is the ultimate test of an apostle. If God had not sent Paul he would not have been able to do this work. Apostle means “A sent one”
I had the privilege to work with a modern day apostle while I was a missionary in the Dominican Republic. The man’s name was Jerry Morris. He was to be my mentor for two years as I learned cross cultural evangelism and church planting. Jerry has lived in Mexico for several years prior to relocating to the Dominican Republic. I first met him in Tampico Mexico when a group of us from our church went for a ten day short term mission’s trip. That trip did it for me. I was hooked. I was so excited to see all the five-fold ministries of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers all working together. It was like a page out of the book of Acts! The Lord had used Jerry to plant over twenty new churches throughout that area of Mexico and raise up many new pastors. The seal of his modern day apostleship was those new believers and churches in the Lord. If anybody goes around boasting that they are an apostle just ask them how many churches they have planted?
He then covers the whole area of receiving offerings and having the right to live from the income of the ministry. Siting the example of how the Old Testament priests were allowed to live from the offerings given at the temple and that the Lord said that those that preach the gospel should live from the gospel, the worker being worthy of his wages. However, Paul said that he never demanded his rights as an apostle but worked for a living. Paul did this to destroy any accusation that he was in the ministry to make money. He did in fact receive offerings from time to time but he also worked hard as a tent maker gaining a living. So, you could say that Paul was a bi-vocational minister.
My mother used to tell me; “Nick, you always should have something to fall back on.” Of course meaning that it’s a good idea to have other sources of income if things don’t work out. Over the years I have come to realize she was right. There have been times that I have been in the ministry full time with all my needs met and other times not so much. But for Paul and every God called minister the preaching of the gospel is something that you absolutely must do. God had specifically called anointed and appointed preachers of the gospel and for them it’s not a matter of should I preach or not. No, it’s as Paul wrote in verse 16…necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) To be an apostle of the Lamb you would have needed to follow Jesus from his baptism till his ascension to Heaven.
2) Jesus revealed himself to Paul and called him into the ministry.
3) While there are more than one qualification for apostolic ministry the greatest proof of a divine call is people being spiritually born again in Christ and new churches being started.
4) It’s okay to be a bi-vocational minister. Many times it can take away any suspicions of a ministers motives and provide the kind of life your family and kids deserve.
5) The true preacher of the gospel of Christ will serve the Lord with or without money because the call of God compels them to fulfill their ministry.
ORDINATION
Remember, if you’re looking for Ministry Credentials and Ordination visit our website Diamond Institute to apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For more Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
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? 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. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 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? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 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?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
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? 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. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 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. 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? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In this portion of Paul’s letter he answers questions concerning the legitimacy of his ministry. Some were raising questions like; Why do you have the right to tell us to do anything? When I was a kid my sister Tracy and I would fire off to each other; “Who died and left you boss”. This same kind of attitude and questioning happens in ministries and churches today. So Paul qualifies his apostolic ministry in a few profound statements:
- Am I not an apostle?
- Have I not seen our Lord Jesus Christ?
- If I am not an apostle to others I surely am to you because you in Christ are the seal of my apostleship!
Some Bible scholars argue that the eleven apostles made a mistake by appointing Matthias as the replacement for Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus then hanged himself. I do not believe it was a mistake because part of the criteria that would qualify you to be one of the original group of twelve apostles also known as the apostles of the Lamb was following Jesus from the baptism of John in the wilderness until the day he ascended in front of their eyes and returned to the father in Heaven that sent him. Acts 1:21-22 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Obviously, Paul did not follow Jesus from the earliest days of his ministry but rather was an persecutor of Christians till the day he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:3-6 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
This is the experience Paul constantly testified about to everyone. He refers to seeing the Lord Jesus after he arose from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
So the Lord made a special trip to reveal himself to Paul and called him to be an apostle directly! Wow, now that is powerful! Seeing and hearing the glorified Christ were burned into Paul’s mind and heart. He would never forget this experience uses it here to defend his call to the ministry saying “Am I not an apostle, have I not seen the Lord?”
Next he says I may not be an apostle to others but doubtless I am to you because now, through my preaching you are “In Christ.” The word seal in the Blue Letter Bible means: that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated, as by a seal (a token or proof). Paul says this is the ultimate seal of his apostleship. He came to town, preached, people were converted to Christ and formed into a new church. Before Paul came to Corinth there was no church but after he left there were a group of new born again believers meeting together in Jesus name to worship the Lord. This is the ultimate test of an apostle. If God had not sent Paul he would not have been able to do this work. Apostle means “A sent one”
I had the privilege to work with a modern day apostle while I was a missionary in the Dominican Republic. The man’s name was Jerry Morris. He was to be my mentor for two years as I learned cross cultural evangelism and church planting. Jerry has lived in Mexico for several years prior to relocating to the Dominican Republic. I first met him in Tampico Mexico when a group of us from our church went for a ten day short term mission’s trip. That trip did it for me. I was hooked. I was so excited to see all the five-fold ministries of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers all working together. It was like a page out of the book of Acts! The Lord had used Jerry to plant over twenty new churches throughout that area of Mexico and raise up many new pastors. The seal of his modern day apostleship was those new believers and churches in the Lord. If anybody goes around boasting that they are an apostle just ask them how many churches they have planted?
He then covers the whole area of receiving offerings and having the right to live from the income of the ministry. Siting the example of how the Old Testament priests were allowed to live from the offerings given at the temple and that the Lord said that those that preach the gospel should live from the gospel, the worker being worthy of his wages. However, Paul said that he never demanded his rights as an apostle but worked for a living. Paul did this to destroy any accusation that he was in the ministry to make money. He did in fact receive offerings from time to time but he also worked hard as a tent maker gaining a living. So, you could say that Paul was a bi-vocational minister.
My mother used to tell me; “Nick, you always should have something to fall back on.” Of course meaning that it’s a good idea to have other sources of income if things don’t work out. Over the years I have come to realize she was right. There have been times that I have been in the ministry full time with all my needs met and other times not so much. But for Paul and every God called minister the preaching of the gospel is something that you absolutely must do. God had specifically called anointed and appointed preachers of the gospel and for them it’s not a matter of should I preach or not. No, it’s as Paul wrote in verse 16…necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) To be an apostle of the Lamb you would have needed to follow Jesus from his baptism till his ascension to Heaven.
2) Jesus revealed himself to Paul and called him into the ministry.
3) While there are more than one qualification for apostolic ministry the greatest proof of a divine call is people being spiritually born again in Christ and new churches being started.
4) It’s okay to be a bi-vocational minister. Many times it can take away any suspicions of a ministers motives and provide the kind of life your family and kids deserve.
5) The true preacher of the gospel of Christ will serve the Lord with or without money because the call of God compels them to fulfill their ministry.
ORDINATION
Remember, if you’re looking for Ministry Credentials and Ordination visit our website Diamond Institute to apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For more Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll