The apostle shows his authority, and asserts his right to be maintained
It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for goodwill to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as an example of self-denial, for the good of others. He had a right to marry as well as other apostles, and to claim what was needful for his wife, and his children if he had any, from the churches, without laboring with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do our souls good, should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right, rather than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people’s duty to maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but those transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-14
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.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
At first glance, chapter 9 seems to begin a new topic. However, the issue of meat sacrificed to idols will occupy us for two more chapters. Paul makes an interjection here to present his own example of self-denial for the benefit of others. He was willing to give up his right to financial support as an apostle in accordance with the principle of [1Cor 8:13]. Therefore, this chapter is closely connected with chapter 8.
As we know, there were brothers in Corinth who questioned Paul's authority. They said that he was not one of the Twelve and therefore not a true apostle. Paul counters that he is not under human authority and is indeed a true "apostle" of the Lord Jesus. He supports this claim with two facts. First, he had "seen Jesus our Lord" in His resurrection glory. This happened on the road to Damascus. Additionally, he points to the Corinthians themselves as evidence of his apostleship by asking the question: "Are you not my work in the Lord?" If they had any doubts about his apostleship, they only needed to examine themselves. Were they saved? Of course, they would answer this question with yes. And who had pointed them to Christ? Of course, it was the Apostle Paul! Therefore, they themselves were proof of the fact that he was a true apostle of the Lord.
As we know, there were brothers in Corinth who questioned Paul's authority. They said that he was not one of the Twelve and therefore not a true apostle. Paul counters that he is not under human authority and is indeed a true "apostle" of the Lord Jesus. He supports this claim with two facts. First, he had "seen Jesus our Lord" in His resurrection glory. This happened on the road to Damascus. Additionally, he points to the Corinthians themselves as evidence of his apostleship by asking the question: "Are you not my work in the Lord?" If they had any doubts about his apostleship, they only needed to examine themselves. Were they saved? Of course, they would answer this question with yes. And who had pointed them to Christ? Of course, it was the Apostle Paul! Therefore, they themselves were proof of the fact that he was a true apostle of the Lord.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-05-17 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
-shall we therefore so interpret Paul as if he demonstrates the apostles to have had wives?.
And, "(I think) God hath selected us the apostles (as) hindmost, like men appointed to fight with wild beasts; since we have been made a spectacle to this world, both to angels and to men: "And, "We have been made the offscourings of this world, the refuse of all: "And, "Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Christ Jesus our Lord? "
 | Author: Tertullian of Carthage Rank: Author AD: 220 |
The really great thing was that the Corinthian Christians were Paul’s workmanship in the Lord. Even Judas was an apostle and saw Christ, but because he did not have the work of an apostle, these things were of no benefit to him.
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
Inasmuch as he had said, If meat make my brother to stumble I will eat no flesh forever; a thing which he had not yet done, but professed he would do if need require: lest any man should say, You vaunt yourself at random, and art severe in discourse, and utterest words of promise, a thing easy to me or to any body; but if these sayings come from your heart, show by deeds something which you have slighted in order to avoid making your brother stumble: for this cause, I say, in what follows he is compelled to enter on the proof of this also, and to point out how he was used to forego even things permitted that he might not give offense, although without any law to enforce his doing so. And we are not yet come to the admirable part of the matter: though it be admirable that he abstain even from things lawful to avoid offense: but it is his habit of doing so at the cost of so much trouble and danger. For why, says he, speak of the idol sacrifices? Since although Christ had enjoined that those who preach the Gospel should live at the charge of their disciples, I did not so, but chose, if need were, to end my life with famine and die the most grievous of deaths, so I might avoid receiving of those whom I instruct. Not because they would otherwise be made to stumble, but because his not receiving would edify them : a much greater thing for him to do. And to witness this he summons themselves, among whom he was used to live in toil and in hunger, nourished by others, and put to straits, in order not to offend them. And yet there was no ground for their taking offense, for it would but have been a law which he was fulfilling. But for all this, by a sort of supererogation he used to spare them. Now if he did more than was enacted lest they should take offense, and abstained from permitted things to edify others; what must they deserve who abstain not from idol sacrifices? And that, when many perish thereby? A thing which even apart from all scandal one ought to shrink from, as being the table of demons. The sum therefore of this whole topic is this which he works out in many verses. But we must resume it and make a fresh entrance on what he has alleged. For neither has he set it down thus expressly as I have worded it; nor does he leap at once upon it; but begins from another topic, thus speaking; 2. Am I not an Apostle? For besides all that has been said, this also makes no small difference that Paul himself is the person thus conducting himself. As thus: To prevent their alleging, You may taste of the sacrifices, sealing at the same time: for a while he withstands not that statement, but argues, Though it were lawful, your brethren's harm should keep you from doing so; and afterwards he proves that it is not even lawful. In this particular place, however, he establishes the former point from circumstances relating to himself. And intending presently to say that he had received nothing from them, he sets it not down at once, but his own dignity is what he first affirms: Am I not an Apostle? Am I not free? Thus, to hinder their saying, True; thou did not receive, but the reason thou did not was its not being lawful; he sets down therefore first the causes why he might reasonably have received, had he been willing to do so. Further: that there might not seem to be any thing invidious in regard of Peter and such as Peter, in his saying these things, (for they did not use to decline receiving;) he first shows that they had authority to receive, and then that no one might say, Peter had authority to receive but you had not, he possesses the hearer beforehand with these encomiums of himself. And perceiving that he must praise himself, (for that was the way to correct the Corinthians,) yet disliking to say any great thing of himself, see how he has tempered both feelings as the occasion required: limiting his own panegyric, not by what he knew of himself, but by what the subject of necessity required. For he might have said, I most of all had a right to receive, even more than they, because 'I labored more abundantly than they.' But this he omits, being a point wherein he surpassed them; and those points wherein they were great and which were just grounds for their receiving, those only he sets down: as follows: Am I not an Apostle? Am I not free? i.e. have I not authority over myself? Am I under any, to overrule me and forbid my receiving? But they have an advantage over you, in having been with Christ. Nay, neither is this denied me. With a view to which he says, Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? For last of all, 1 Corinthians 15:8 says he, as unto one born out of due time, He appeared unto me also. Now this likewise was no small dignity: since many Prophets, Matthew 13:17 says He, and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see, and have not seen them: and, Days will come when you shall desire to see one of these days. Luke 17:22 What then, though thou be 'an Apostle,' and 'free,' and hast 'seen Christ,' if you have not exhibited any work of an Apostle; how then can it be right for you to receive? Wherefore after this he adds, Are you not my work in the Lord? For this is the great thing; and those others avail nothing, apart from this. Even Judas himself was an Apostle, and free, and saw Christ; but because he had not the work of an Apostle, all those things profited him not. You see then why he adds this also, and calls themselves to be witnesses of it. Moreover, because it was a great thing which he had uttered, see how he chastens it, adding, In the Lord: i.e., the work is God's, not mine.
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
