This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7Who 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?
8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9For 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?
10Or 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.
11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12If 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.
13Do 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?
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16For 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!
17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18What 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.
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21to 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.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Salvation is a free gift that we can have now, not a reward or prize we get later. We can clearly understand Paul speaks of treasure or rewards in heaven here.
25And 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.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
In Philippians Paul uses this same language for running and we see it is for serving the body of Christ and bringing God glory. If his audience follows Jesus he considers his running for them to not be in vain Philippians 2:16 “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”Simply, he is working hard laboring (2 Corinthians 6) to lead people to Jesus and he hopes they continue on and mature in their faith so his work is not wasted. This running is not for his salvation as some say, we can see it is his investing in other people as verse 24 says, for a “prize”.
Again in Galatians 2:2 Paul uses the same language“And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”this running in context speaks of his labor and work spreading the gospel. He again is striving to not have his work wasted.
In context Paul is speaking of a reward (verses 17 and 18) or a “prize” (verse 24) not keeping or maintaining salvation of his soul as some assert. He exhorts his readers to do the best they can following Jesus, try so hard as if trying to beat opponents in a race. This isn’t a lazy walk, careless, etc this is a calculated lifestyle. As Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19 “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”
Paul calls the believers at the churches he writes to his crown in Philippians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:19
27but 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.
The word “castaway” here can also mean reprobate. Does this mean that Paul isn’t sure if he is going to heaven?
Paul says he is not a reprobate or castaway in 2 Corinthians 13:6 ”But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates” Although the English word here is castaway and reprobate in 2 Corinthians, the Greek word used in both passages here is Strong's G96 - adokimos
In 1 Peter 5:1 Peter also knows he is saved and going to heaven when he says that he is“also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed”.
So why does Paul say he preaches in order to not be a castaway? In context of the entire chapter 9, he is speaking of running a race to get a reward. Scripture makes it clear salvation is a gift, something we receive not something we earn. Therefore we know he does not speak of salvation here. Why does he keep his body under subjection, strive in holiness, become weak? So he is not a castaway for that reward or prize. So at the end he achieves and earns what he is running and striving for. For he may preach to others and yet he himself lose out on the incorruptible crown, the prize he is striving for.
9
1 Corinthians 9 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7Who 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?
8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9For 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?
10Or 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.
11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12If 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.
13Do 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?
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16For 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!
17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18What 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.
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21to 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.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Salvation is a free gift that we can have now, not a reward or prize we get later. We can clearly understand Paul speaks of treasure or rewards in heaven here.
25And 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.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
In Philippians Paul uses this same language for running and we see it is for serving the body of Christ and bringing God glory. If his audience follows Jesus he considers his running for them to not be in vain Philippians 2:16 “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Simply, he is working hard laboring (2 Corinthians 6) to lead people to Jesus and he hopes they continue on and mature in their faith so his work is not wasted. This running is not for his salvation as some say, we can see it is his investing in other people as verse 24 says, for a “prize”.
Again in Galatians 2:2 Paul uses the same language “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” this running in context speaks of his labor and work spreading the gospel. He again is striving to not have his work wasted.
In context Paul is speaking of a reward (verses 17 and 18) or a “prize” (verse 24) not keeping or maintaining salvation of his soul as some assert. He exhorts his readers to do the best they can following Jesus, try so hard as if trying to beat opponents in a race. This isn’t a lazy walk, careless, etc this is a calculated lifestyle. As Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19 “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”
Paul calls the believers at the churches he writes to his crown in Philippians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:19
27but 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.
The word “castaway” here can also mean reprobate. Does this mean that Paul isn’t sure if he is going to heaven?
Paul says he is not a reprobate or castaway in 2 Corinthians 13:6 ”But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates” Although the English word here is castaway and reprobate in 2 Corinthians, the Greek word used in both passages here is Strong's G96 - adokimos
In 1 Peter 5:1 Peter also knows he is saved and going to heaven when he says that he is “also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed”.
So why does Paul say he preaches in order to not be a castaway? In context of the entire chapter 9, he is speaking of running a race to get a reward. Scripture makes it clear salvation is a gift, something we receive not something we earn. Therefore we know he does not speak of salvation here. Why does he keep his body under subjection, strive in holiness, become weak? So he is not a castaway for that reward or prize. So at the end he achieves and earns what he is running and striving for. For he may preach to others and yet he himself lose out on the incorruptible crown, the prize he is striving for.