"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Nine
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To be impressed with Paul's own example of restricting his liberty
in Christ so as to save others
2) To understand the Biblical authority for supporting those who labor
in the preaching of the gospel
3) To see the importance of self-control, and the danger of apostasy
SUMMARY
After warning in chapter eight that the improper exercise of one's
liberty in Christ might lead to the damnation of those who are weak in
faith and conscience, Paul now illustrates how he was willing to
exercise restraint even when it came to the liberties he had as an
apostle of Jesus Christ. Though he had the right to have a believing
wife and be supported in the preaching the gospel (1-14), he freely
chose not to exercise these and other rights. One reason was so he
might be able to freely offer some sort of service to the Lord (15-18),
but it also was because he desired to save others (19-23). There was
also the realization that self-restraint was a necessary quality to
assure his own salvation as well (24-27)!
OUTLINE
I. PAUL'S LIBERTY AS AN APOSTLE (1-14)
A. AN AFFIRMATION OF HIS APOSTLESHIP AND LIBERTY (1-2)
1. By virtue of being an eyewitness of the Lord (1a)
2. By virtue of his work among the Corinthians (1b-2)
B. VARIOUS LIBERTIES AVAILABLE TO PAUL (3-14)
1. The right to eat and drink (4)
2. The right to take along a believing wife, as other apostles,
the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas were doing (5)
3. The right to refrain from working and be supported by others
(6-14)
a. Illustrations of a soldier, farmer, and shepherd (7)
b. As illustrated by the Law of Moses (8-10)
c. An exchange of spiritual things for material things (11)
d. If others could, why not Paul, if he wanted? (12)
e. The example of priests in the temple (13)
f. The clear decree of the Lord Himself (14)
II. PAUL'S EXAMPLE OF RESTRICTING HIS LIBERTY TO SAVE OTHERS AND
HIMSELF (15-27)
A. WHY HE CHOSE NOT TO EXERCISE HIS LIBERTY CONCERNING SUPPORT
(15-18)
1. His purpose in writing is not to raise support, for that would
make his boasting void (15)
2. Preaching the gospel was a necessity laid upon him by the Lord
(16-17)
a. He had no choice, he would be lost if he did not (16)
b. If he had chosen to preach on his own, he would have a
reward (17a)
c. But he was like a slave, entrusted with a stewardship
regardless of his will (17b)
3. But by choosing to present the gospel without charge, he could
have a reward, and also not abuse his authority in the gospel
(18)
B. HIS EXAMPLE OF SERVITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS (19-23)
1. Though free from all men, he made himself a servant to all to
save them (19-22a)
a. To the Jews and those under the Law (20)
b. To those not under the Law (21)
c. To the weak (22a)
2. He became all things to all men, desiring to save them and share
the gospel with them (22a-23)
C. ANOTHER REASON TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT: THE POSSIBILITY OF
APOSTASY (24-27)
1. Not who run in a race win a prize, so one needs to run so as
to win (24)
2. Those who compete for perishable crowns exercise self-control
in all things, how much should we who seek for an imperishable
crown! (25)
3. So Paul runs his race, and fights the good fight, with
determined discipline and control over his own body (26-27a)
4. For he knows he could be lost (disqualified) after preaching
to others! (27b)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- Paul's Liberty As An Apostle (1-14)
- Paul's Example Of Restricting His Liberty To Save Others And
Himself (15-27)
2) What two things helped to verify Paul's apostleship? (1-2)
- He had seen the Lord
- The conversion of the Corinthians
3) What were two things that the apostles had the right to do? (5-6)
- To take along a believing wife
- To refrain from working
4) What arguments does Paul make to justify preachers receiving
support? (7-14)
- Illustrations of a soldier, farmer, and shepherd
- Illustrated by the Law of Moses
- An exchange of spiritual things for material things
- The fact others were receiving support
- The example of priests in the temple
- The clear decree of the Lord Himself
5) Why did Paul choose not to accept support? (15-18)
- So he might receive a reward for doing something willingly, not
out of necessity
6) Why was Paul willing to make himself a servant to all men? (19,22)
- So he could save some of them
7) What two athletic events did Paul compare with the Christian life?
(24-26)
- Running a race
- Boxing
8) Why was Paul so concerned about exercising self-control? (27)
- He was aware of the real possibility of being "disqualified"
himself after having preached to others
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