1 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 9 focuses on Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian church about a collection (relief and offerings) . Paul praises the zeal of the Corinthian church to the churches of Macedonia and encourages them with their ready hearts. He also emphasizes that the collection should come from a willing heart rather than from compulsion or obligation.
- Verses 1–5: Encouragement and expectation regarding preparing the collection
- Verses 6–15: The principles and outcomes of a willing collection, giving glory to God
1verseAm I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?
2verseIf to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3verseMy defense to those who examine me is this:
4verseHave we no right to eat and to drink?
5verseHave we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
6verseOr have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
7verseWhat soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
8verseDo I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
9verseFor it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,
10verseor does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
11verseIf we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
12verseIf others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
13verseDon’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
14verseEven so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
15verseBut I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
16verseFor if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me if I don’t preach the Good News.
17verseFor if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
18verseWhat then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
19verseFor though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20verseTo the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
21verseto those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
22verseTo the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23verseNow I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
24verseDon’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.
25verseEvery man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
26verseI therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,
27versebut I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Key Content and Meaning
The core of this chapter is devotion offered with joy and freedom. Paul explains that every offering must be voluntary, and that it is right to give with “abundance” and “thankfulness,” not with “stinginess.” Since God is the one who fills abundantly, he says that when we serve others, God will also supply our needs generously. In addition, this sharing ultimately leads to many thanks and praise to God.
Points for Reflection
- Take a moment to check what I am sharing and why I am sharing it.
- Think about whether my motivation and attitude are based on willingness and joy.
- Reflect on what good influence God wants to accomplish through my sharing.
Try Applying It to Me
- Today, plan a small action you can take to help your neighbors within your circumstances or to serve them with joy.
- Remember that my sharing is a tool to reveal God, and begin the day with thankfulness.
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