1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 9 1 Corinthians 9:1,2 Paul vindicateth his apostolical character, 1 Corinthians 9:3-14 and right to a maintenance from the churches, 1 Corinthians 9:15-18 though he relinquished that right for the furtherance of the gospel, not content with doing only his indispensable duty, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 but voluntarily subjecting himself in many points, where he was otherwise free, in order thereby to win over more converts to Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:24,25 Those who contend for a corruptible crown use much labour and abstinence. 1 Corinthians 9:26,27 So doth the apostle strive for one that is incorruptible. Chapter Introduction In the greater part of this chapter, the apostle proceedeth in his former discourse, not speaking particularly to the case of eating meat offered to idols, but to the general point, viz. That it is our duty to abate of our liberty, when we see we cannot use it without harm to other Christians. And here he proposeth to them his own example, who had restrained himself in three things, to two of which he had a liberty, and yet avoided it, and that not to prevent their sinning, but only their suffering, and that, too, only by being by him over-burdened:
1. As to eating and drinking.
2. Abstaining from marriage, by which he might have been more chargeable to them.
3. Requiring maintenance of them for his labour amongst them. As to both which he declares he had from God's law a liberty, but had forborne to use that part from which the church in that state might be prejudiced. Am I not an apostle? Some that are puffed up or seduced, will, it may be, deny that I am an apostle, a preacher of the gospel of the greatest eminency, immediately sent out by Christ to preach his gospel; but will any of you deny it? Am I not free? Have I not the same liberty that any of you have in things wherein the law of God hath no more determined me than you? What charter of liberty hath God given to any of you more than he hath to me? Have I not seen Jesus Christ? Did not I see Christ in my going to Damascus? Acts 9:5, Acts 22:13,14; and when I was in my ecstasy, when I was rapt into the third heavens? 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; in prison? Acts 23:11. He was the only apostle we read of, who saw Christ after his ascension. Are not ye my work in the Lord? If others will not look upon me as an apostle: God having wrought nothing upon their souls by my ministry, yet you, whose faith is my work, though in the Lord, as the principal efficient Cause, yet by me as God's instrument, cannot deny me to be so: if my having seen Jesus Christ, and being immediately sent out by him, be not enough to prove me so to you, yet the effects of my ministry upon you puts it past your denial.