Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least 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 not have authority to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have authority to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have authority to refrain from working? 7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not consume the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not consume the milk of the flock?
8 Am I speaking these things according to human judgment? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.” Is God merely concerned about oxen? 10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this authority over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this authority, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9: 1-14 LSB
1 Corinthians 9: 1-14
We just left off with Paul speaking to the Corinthians, answering their questions about their liberty in Christ and the setting aside of their freedoms for the sake of weaker brothers. From commentaries and sermons I can see that this is a difficult passage for preachers to speak on, except for those charlatans who are only about filling their purses. We are all aware of such, and so when the subject of money comes up in church we should not lay aside past experiences, but should listen carefully and proceed with discernment. We are all called to be stewards of the things that God has given us, and so rightfully we should be concerned with the stewardship of those we would support in the ministry. For some pastors it is a difficult subject to approach because they are aware of the many abuses regarding money that have occurred in the name of Christ. They do not want the association, and I don't blame them, but it is part of God's word and needs to be addressed. When you look at this passage in context you will actually see it is quite beautiful, for here we see Paul's example of what he had just taught them about laying aside your rights and privileges. The apostle will prove that he didn't just teach about these things, but here is the example of doing so in his own life.
1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.… 1 Timothy 3: 1-3
…6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. 7 As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach— not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. 8Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.… Titus 1: 6-8
…18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,… Philippians 3: 18-20
V. 1a Am I not free - He is free in Christ as well, and should be able to enjoy the same privileges as his peers.
V. 1b Am I not an apostle - This was Paul's calling, his peer group, and so the answer is the affirmative, acknowledging that he shared the same vocation as Peter and the other Apostles.
V. 1C Have I not seen Jesus our Lord - For those that doubted his claim to Apostleship, his opposers, he asserts the basis of the claim, that he had seen the risen Lord, one of the qualifications of being an Apostle. I believe the apostolic era ended with the apostles, and that people who make that claim about themselves now should be rebuked and seen for the false teachers that they are.
An apostle by definition had to have seen the resurrected Jesus Peter declaring "Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us– beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us–one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22) Paul insists that he did not merely see a vision of Jesus, but an authentic appearance of the post-resurrection Jesus.
Acts 9:3-6 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
1 Corinthians 15:8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. - PA
V. 2 At least I am to you - He was sent out as an apostle to the gentiles, and to this very people, the Corinthians, whom he now addressed. They had witnessed the signs of his apostleship. He had shared the gospel and many had believed. They were a place of his planting where the Holy Spirit had moved.
Utley - A seal in the ancient world was a warm blob of wax into which a signet ring was pressed to seal a letter or package. It was an assurance that the contents had not been opened; it showed who owned the contents; and it showed the genuineness of the contents, that it was sent by the right person. This type of seal became a metaphor of Christian certainty (cf. John 3:33; Ro 4:11).
Not only were the saints in Corinth Paul's seal of authenticity, they were also his letter (See Passage above). In addition Paul had performed supernatural signs that authenticated his apostleship, writing "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you (BY ME, PAUL) with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles." (2 Corinthians 12:12)
Vs. 3-4 Do we not have authority to eat and drink - Paul starts his defense, and this is in the context of paying ministers, so it is in reference to being fed.
17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “ Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 1 Timothy 5: 17-18
V. 5 To take along a believing wife - Paul had the right to take along a wife, but he had the gift of celibacy as previously discussed. The point here is that if he did then his, her and his families care would all be considered one. They would all need to be fed.
V. 5b The rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas - Here is the precedent, and Paul is an apostle too. This passage flies in the face of the Roman Catholic teachings concerning Peter, popes (which are an unbiblical invention) and the rest of the apostles. Paul appears to be the only one without a wife. Cephas is another name for Peter.
…2influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,… 1 Timothy 4: 2-4
Jack Arnold - It was the practice of the Apostles to take their wives and children with them when they traveled and ministered to various churches. This verse tells us that most of the Apostles were married to believing wives, and they were not separated from their wives and families when ministering. It also tells us that the church supported the Apostle, his wife and his family; therefore, we might conclude that the woman was not required to work for money outside the home. This verse certainly refutes the idea that men in the ministry should not be married....and the Lord’s brothers. This is a reference to the half-brothers of Jesus. Mary had other children by Joseph after she bore Christ (Matt. 1:25; 12:46; Jn. 2:12). This obviously refutes the superstition that Mary was always a virgin. This more importantly tells us that the privilege of being financially supported in the ministry applied to those who were not Apostles, for the half-brothers of Christ were not Apostles, except James.... and Cephas? Even Peter and his wife were supported by the church in the work of the ministry. Peter was a married man (Matt 8:14; Mark 1:30). Again, this refutes the whole idea of the celibacy of the clergy. Furthermore, if Peter was the first Pope (as some erroneously claim) then that Pope was a married man. - PA
Vs. 6-7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense - Consider the natural order, even a slave that is sent into war would receive food, shelter and equipment. He continues, "who plants a vineyard, who shepherds a flock?" The answer is obvious, you plant a vineyard in order to consume it's grapes, with the expectation of drinking of it's wine. There is a logical principle here as well that you would want your own time and skill to be valued. If you had a farm, well most people don't understand this today, but it takes a lot of time and energy, a lot of planning and maintenance, so you would not be wrong for expecting to be compensated by those who would be interested in your vegetables, meat, fruit or dairy products. It is normal to value the products and services that people provide. A good measure would be, what would I honestly want if I was the one providing this service? Of course to get here honestly you would need to learn a bit of what goes into it.
…14Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. 15You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. 16Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.… Deuteronomy 24: 14-16
…12You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. 13You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand. 14You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.… Leviticus 19: 12-14
Vs. 8-10 Yes for our sakes it was written - Paul demonstrates that this is not just human wisdom and reasoning; this is congruent with Holy Scripture. If you do not muzzle the ox, but allow him to eat as he plows, to restore his expenditure, then what of the plowman made in God's image, your brother?
Vs. 11-12 We endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ - These were Paul's spiritual children, yet he and Barnabas did not exercise their rights or privilege as Apostles when they were with them. He gives the reason, because he wanted no hindrance to the gospel, and as MacArthur points out, this was by his own choice. Paul removed a stumbling block out of love for God and his people, but also for the sake of the gospel, and even this message. No one in Corinth could say that they made Paul the man he was, and this brings about an interesting question. Are there times today when men would be called as tent makers? Absolutely, if God sent you to a people who are poor, or a people who were skeptical, then they may be interested in the message, but not able or yet willing to pay a vocational elder. This is why I think it is important for us to support missionaries so that they do not come as a burden to those they are trying to reach, but also doing missions isn't vacationing so we need to be careful who we send. Never withhold the gospel, but trust God to take care of you.
…7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts.… Matthew 10: 7-9
Vs. 13-14 Those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple - This is a reference back to the Levitical priesthood. They received a portion of the sacrifices and tithes given at the temple, as the Levites also served in the keeping of the temple and the ceremonies.
First, if ministers are required to support themselves, the danger is that they will be forced to become men of the world when they should be men of prayer and the Word. Ministers ought not to go into real estate, investments, gold and silver, playing the stock market or whatever. These distract a man of God from his number one task which is to pray and minister the Word. The normative principle is that a minister is never to seek support from a secular occupation unless it is a particular, special case such as Paul and Barnabas.
Second, a minister should be paid well enough so as to keep his mind from worldly things such as where his next dollar is coming from. He should receive an amount of money which would make him free from the basic cares of the world. He should not be rich nor should he live in poverty simply because he is in the ministry.
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God (Prov. 30:8-9). - PA
…5The priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to the LORD; it is a guilt offering. 6Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. 7The guilt offering is like the sin offering; the same law applies to both. It belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it.…
…8As for the priest who presents a burnt offering for anyone, the hide of that offering belongs to him. 9Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in an oven or cooked in a pan or on a griddle belongs to the priest who presents it, 10and every grain offering, whether dry or mixed with oil, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.… Leviticus 7: 5-10
