Read & explore together
The Rights of an Apostle
Paul explains that an apostle has real rights, including support for ministry, yet he chose not to use those rights among the Corinthians. His argument moves from his calling, to ordinary work, to Scripture, to his own practice.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul answers people who examine him and defends his apostleship. He points to the Corinthians themselves, then explains why receiving support for gospel work is proper, even though he personally chose to preach without charge.
1 Corinthians 9:1–18Main takeaway
This passage teaches that gospel workers may rightly receive support, and that Paul freely gave up that right so the Good News would not be hindered.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The Corinthians are evidence of Paul’s apostleshipPaul opens with questions about his freedom and apostleship. He says he has seen Jesus Christ the Lord, and he calls the Corinthians his work in the Lord.
Explanation
Paul opens with questions about his freedom and apostleship. He says he has seen Jesus Christ the Lord, and he calls the Corinthians his work in the Lord. He even says they are the seal of his apostleship, meaning they are evidence connected to his ministry among them.
02He lists rights that belong to workersPaul asks whether he and Barnabas have the right to food, drink, family travel, and freedom from supporting themselves by other work.
Explanation
Paul asks whether he and Barnabas have the right to food, drink, family travel, and freedom from supporting themselves by other work. Then he uses examples from a soldier, a vineyard, and a flock. His point is simple: workers normally share in the benefits of their labour.
03Scripture and worship support the same principlePaul says this is not only human reasoning. He quotes the law about not muzzling an ox, then explains that ploughing and threshing are done in hope of sharing the result.
Explanation
Paul says this is not only human reasoning. He quotes the law about not muzzling an ox, then explains that ploughing and threshing are done in hope of sharing the result. He also points to temple service and says the Lord ordained that proclaimers of the Good News should live from it.
04Paul chose not to use this rightPaul says material support would not be too much if he had sown spiritual things. Even so, he did not use that right, because he did not want to hinder the Good News.
Explanation
Paul says material support would not be too much if he had sown spiritual things. Even so, he did not use that right, because he did not want to hinder the Good News. He says preaching is a stewardship laid on him, and his reward is to present the Good News without charge.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Paul say the Corinthians themselves show that he is an apostle?
Look for the words about them being his work in the Lord and the seal of his apostleship.
02What do the soldier, vineyard worker, and shepherd examples show?
Each example shows a worker sharing in the results of the work.
03Why did Paul not use his right to receive support here?
Notice his concern not to hinder the Good News and his choice to preach without charge.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 9:1–18
1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?
2If 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.
3My defense to those who examine me is this:
4Have we no right to eat and to drink?
5Have 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?
6Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
7What 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?
8Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
9For 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,
10or 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.
11If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
12If 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.
13Don’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?
14Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
15But 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.
16For 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.
17For 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.
18What 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.