1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9:1

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?

And if I could be content thus altogether to abridge myself of my liberty, how much more should ye be content to part with a little! For have not I as good reason to call for my own, and to stand upon the respects due to me, as another man? Am I not an Apostle? am I not a free man, as well as they? have I not, though later in time, yet no less truly, seen Jesus Christ, our Lord, in his glorified estate, which is more than

1 Corinthians 9:3

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this.

Mine answer, that I give to those that make question of my calling and Apostleship, is this, which I have now set down; even the success of my labours amongst you, and your effectual conversion by me.

1 Corinthians 9:4

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Have not we power to eat and drink upon your charge, as well as other teachers?

1 Corinthians 9:5

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?

Have not we power to lead about with us our wives, at the charge of the Church, as well as other Apostles; and as well as those of them, which were of the kindred of Christ; and as well as Peter? or to take the benefit of the ministration of grave Christian matrons, for our tendance and provision in our journey, as well as they?

1 Corinthians 9:6

Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Or am I only and Barnabas excluded from the common privilege of others; and must be forced to work for our living; not expecting maintenance from you, and the rest of our auditors?

1 Corinthians 9:7

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charge?

Is there not reason, that we should live upon your cost? Is there any reason, that we should labour upon our own? who goeth a warfare &c.? IX. 9, 10. Doth God take care for oxen? 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. Do ye think, that in that law God’s principal aim and drift was to make provision for oxen? and did not rather therein intend to give order for those, which are, typically, the oxen of his spiritual husbandry; even those, which labour in his harvest? and, doubtless, it was meant chiefly to us, and given for our sakes; that we, which take pains in the field and floor of God, might both hope for and receive such recompence as is meet for us.

1 Corinthians 9:11

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

If we have conferred upon you spiritual blessings, and have brought you the knowledge of Christ and salvation by him, do ye think it a great matter, to return unto us some poor temporal provisions of food, raiment, and meet maintenance?

1 Corinthians 9:12

Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this power and liberty of taking maintenance from you: but rather take pains, and endure want, lest occasion should be hereupon taken to hinder the passage of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:15

For it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

For it were better for me to die, than to lose this glory of my free and unrecompensed preaching of the Gospel, amongst you; wherein I have both prevented scandal, and outbidden and shamed the false apostles.

1 Corinthians 9:16

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!

For preach I must: howsoever, I cannot nor may not glory in this, That I preach the Gospel; for I may not do otherwise: the necessity of my calling lays this duty upon me; and woe be to me, if I preach not the Gospel! so as this is no thank to me.

1 Corinthians 9:17

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.

If I do it willingly, I have my reward with God: but if unwillingly and grudgingly, I lose my reward; because, I am, as it were, forced to my service by command: for this dispensation is committed unto me, howsoever; and I must discharge it upon my peril.

1 Corinthians 9:18

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.

The only thing, therefore, that I can holily glory in, is this, That I have preached the Gospel, cost-free; and have not so abused my power and liberty, as to be a scandal unto any whatsoever.

1 Corinthians 9:19

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Ye talk of your liberty in these indifferent things: I am as free as you; free from all men; yet have I willingly yielded to make myself a servant to all men, &c.

1 Corinthians 9:21

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.

To the Gentiles, that are without the Mosaical Law, I became, in ceremonial matters, as without the Law: (yet let no man tax me for a lawless man; I am not without the Law of God in respect of moral duties, and do willingly subject myself

1 Corinthians 9:22

I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

I framed myself and my carriage in all things, to the dispositions and manners of all men, so far as I lawfully might; that, by thus applying myself unto them, I might by all means save some.

1 Corinthians 9:23

And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

And this I do, out of a desire to propagate and enlarge the good success of the Gospel; that I might be partaker with you of the comfort that ariseth therefrom, and the crown laid up for the furtherers thereof.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Let this also be your care and endeavour; and do ye persevere constantly therein: It is with Christians in their holy course, as with runners in a race: for, as in a race many run but one receiveth the prize; so in Christianity many make a profession and put forward to a holy conversation, but only he that persists to the end shall be saved: so run ye therefore, that ye may attain.

1 Corinthians 9:25

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.

And, in this your holy profession, be careful to abstain from all those offences, which may be a hinderance unto you: Ye see how wrestlers and fencers, that strive for the mastery, and praise of their art and strength, temper their diet, so, as they refrain from every thing that may be harmful to them, either for the shortening of their breath, or the stiffening of their sinews. Now if they do this for a garland of withering leaves, how much more should we do it for an immortal and incorruptible crown!

1 Corinthians 9:26

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.

I therefore so run, as one that resolves to hold out to the end: I so fight, as one that would not spend one blow in vain, but as one that would be sure to strike to purpose.

1 Corinthians 9:27

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.

And, as those wrestlers do, I diet myself accordingly: I keep under my body therefore, and bring it in subjection, by abstinence and such other hard exercises; lest, that, by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself, letting loose the reins to my own lusts, should be a castaway. X. 1, 2. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that our Jewish forefathers, in the Church of Israel, were in the very same condition with us: they were under the same Sacraments with us: for, being all under the cloud and all passing through the sea, they were all baptized, under the ministry and conduct of Moses, in the cloud and in the sea: that waterish cloud and those sea-waters were as no other, but those baptismal waters, wherewith we are now washed in our initiation into Christ. X. 3, 4. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ And as this Sacrament was the same to them and to us, so was that other also: for they did all eat the same spiritual meat with us; And did all drink of the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that water, which issued from that Rock: and that Rock was a figure of Christ, out of whose side issued that blood, which our sacramental wine now representeth.