1 Corinthians Chapter 9: FULL TIME MINISTRY

CORINTH: RICH GREEK CITY/STATE

(Acts 18:1 [KJV])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

(Acts 18:8 [KJV])
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

(Acts 19:1 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

(1 Corinthians 1:2 [KJV])
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(2 Corinthians 1:1 [KJV])
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

(2 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

(2 Corinthians 6:11 [KJV])
O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

(2 Timothy 4:20 [KJV])
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

• Lots of good, fresh water
• Lots of good, arable soil
• Lots of good clay for ceramics, pottery, etc., hence "Corinthian Pottery"
• Shops, fountains, carved stone temples to the Greek gods, porticos, metal workshops abounded
• As a part of a major shipping lane, Corinth has four ports, on the Gulf of Corinth, between two seas
• A temple to Apollo was there
• Another temple was one to Aphrodite, an acropolis known as Acrocorinth, which was associated with prostitutes for the seafaring men, which made it a rich city
• Perusing the two letters Paul wrote to them, it is obvious that they were apostate and backslidden.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:

(1 Corinthians 9:1 [KJV])
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

• Paul was challenged without (the Temple (priests) and within the church leadership itself, like ravening wolves in sheep's clothing
• Such will happen to everyone who stands for the truth of God's Word
• Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) at his calling to Gentile ministry
• Both Jesus and Paul warned of this beforehand
• False teachers, false "apostles", dividers always accuse the real leadership, divide the flock, so that they can take over, lead away part to make their own congregation

(Matthew 7:15 [KJV])
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

(Matthew 10:16 [KJV])
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

(Luke 10:3 [KJV])
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

(Matthew 7:15 [KJV])
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

(Acts 20:29 [KJV])
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

(John 10:11-16 [KJV])
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

(1 Corinthians 9:2 [KJV])
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

• The fruit of Paul's ministry is his Gentile disciples in every city
• He was really not an apostle to others (Jews), like the rest of the disciples, Peter especially, was, but was the apostle to the Gentiles
• To prove it, like any of us, see the fruit of the ministry.

(1 Corinthians 9:3-6 [KJV])
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

• The answer to each of these questions is simple, one word-YES!
• Full time ministers, here and abroad, to be supported by the flock, always, and are to be good stewards of said associated flock
• This is a verse, along with others in the New Testament, clearly showing that Peter (Cephas) was married, and never a pope, as written in a study here

(1 Corinthians 9:7 [KJV])
Who 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?

• The answer to each of these questions is simple, not even implied, but clear and clean, one word-NOBODY!
• Paul was a good steward of his ministry, as we should all always be, feeding and not fleecing the flock
• Without the support of the flocks, there are no shepherds
• Conversely, we should never support false teachers, false shepherds, wolves in sheep's clothing and famous people with mega ministries

(1 Corinthians 9:8 [KJV])
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

• Paul is saying, "I am saying it because I agree with God Who said it"
• Third time, the unquestionable answer is, "YES!"

(1 Corinthians 9:9 [KJV])
For 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?

• The ox has to eat while trampling the stalks in the harvest, as this is its power to work for us to eat and this was/is a command, not a suggestion
• Today it would be like expecting the tractor to till all of the fields, while not filling the gas tank
• God cares for all creatures, as should we care for ours, as good stewards
• By the same token, those who live by preaching and teaching only, not as tent makers like Paul, should live of that same work, being cared for by the flock
• By the same token again, those who live by preaching and teaching only, not as tent makers like Paul, should live of that same work, but never fleece the flock
• In other word$, be tent makers, not tent maker$$$$$$

(Deuteronomy 25:4 [KJV])
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out [the corn].

(Proverbs 12:10 [KJV])
A righteous [man] regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.

(1 Timothy 5:17, 18 [KJV])
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.

(2 Timothy 2:6 [KJV])
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

(Matthew 10:5-10 [KJV])
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

(Luke 10:5-9 [KJV])
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace [be] to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

(2 Timothy 2:6 [KJV])
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

(1 Corinthians 9:10 [KJV])
Or 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.

• This merely furthers the principle, strengthens the argument
• To plow means to sow after, then to grow, then to reap (thresh the grain)

(1 Corinthians 9:11 [KJV])
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

• You cannot spiritually only feed someone whop is a mentor, shepherd of sheep, all of their life. We all need money for food, clothing, a bed
• Apparently some thought Paul "cost too much to take care of"
• If one does not think they have necessities, neither do you need them
• Then: "Is it a great thing?". Today: "What is the big deal?"

(1 Corinthians 9:12 [KJV])
If 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.

• QWho are these "others" probably local she[herds who they were paying, not Paul who perhaps they did not like, because of his message
• Even though due this respect, they chose to be tentmakers
• You cannot get much more blameless that that
• Notice it says "if others can do this" and then profit in the earthly realm, why also not Paul? Completely hypocritical

(Acts 18:3 [KJV])
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

(1 Corinthians 9:13 [KJV])
Do 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?

• The high priests of the Old Testament, even also at this time of Paul, got to partake of the sacrifices in order to eat
• This will never change as long as people need to eat, wear clothes, live and sleep some place

FULL TIME MINISTERS: PARTAKES OF EARTHLY BOUNTY WITH THEIR FLOCK

(Exodus 29:26-28 [KJV])
And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it [for] a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part. And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, [even] of [that] which [is] for Aaron, and of [that] which is for his sons: And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the children of Israel: for it [is] an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, [even] their heave offering unto the LORD.

(Leviticus 7:33,34 [KJV])
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for [his] part. For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.

(Numbers 18:8-11 [KJV])
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever. This shall be thine of the most holy things, [reserved] from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, [shall be] most holy for thee and for thy sons.
In the most holy [place] shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee. And this [is] thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.

(Deuteronomy 18:1-9 [KJV])
The priests the Levites, [and] all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD [is] their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether [it be] ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
The firstfruit [also] of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever. And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose; Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites [do], which stand there before the LORD.
They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.

(1 Corinthians 9:14 [KJV])
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

• This has always been true, for those called into full time ministry

(1 Corinthians 9:15 [KJV])
But 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.

• Apparently he was accused of writing these epistles to gain money. This whole idea is shut down here in these verses, this chapter
• As was said earlier, Paul was a tentmaker, choosing to support himself so as to be blameless and above reproach
• Still, there are always wolves among the sheep
• To shut them up, Paul made his own living, so that he could be blameless.

(1 Corinthians 9:16 [KJV])
For 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!

• We do not do anything-preach the Gospel, serve in leadership, disciple people, or pray, for our glory, but the LORD's
• There would be no reason to serve the LORD to serve ourselves!
• Woe is me is right! It will not go well for the self-serving on the day of judgment

(1 Corinthians 9:17 [KJV])
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.

• If we are compelled by others, pressured into serving, we are not serving the LORD; we are serving the others
• Praise God if it is the Gospel anyways, but still, we should compel or pressure no man to work for the LORD, but rather persuade them gently and let them volunteer

(1 Corinthians 9:18 [KJV])
What 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.

• Again, he is saying that full time ministry deserves earthly wages but, if it bothers some who do not want to help you, but rather whine, grombler, complain because you are getting paid to do it, then fine.
• Everyone needs food to live, clothing, a place to sleep. Are ministers any different than you or I? I trow not!
• Not charging keeps Paul blameless, as the groaners cannot falsely accuse him of stealing from the flock or getting gain for what is in their eyes "no real work!"

(1 Corinthians 9:19 [KJV])
For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

• It is the testimony of a humble heart that counts, that Paul is after
• This goes much further than words, our actions, our reputation

(1 Corinthians 9:20 [KJV])
And 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;

• The purpose of the "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" way is not the legalism, not the idea of impressing, but to gain some, as cultures can separate us
• Being Jewish was not what Paul means here, but rather practicing it in law and in culture. One can not "become a Jew" who is already a Jew

(1 Corinthians 9:21 [KJV])
To 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.

• The Gentile church, having a different law, the law of grace, is what is meant here, not following the law for fellowship with God, not to be saved
• No Gentile wants to become Jewish and keep the law to get saved
• It would repel them to think they had to become Jewish in order to get saved, as any works salvation would

(1 Corinthians 9:22 [KJV])
To 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.

• God wants all to be saved; Paul acknowledges that some will be saved through the ministry, just not all, which is what the false teachers of the "Universal Salvation" cult teaches
• Paul was willing to accommodate all, up to the point of sin, that door he would not enter
• It was differences, not rights and wrongs. Saved or unsaved, not different religions

(1 Corinthians 9:23 [KJV])
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].

• The purpose is the Gospel getting out, no personal gain, else he would not be a tent maker
• He is stating that it is a team effort in this war of evil and good, the Gospel getting out, working together

(1 Corinthians 9:24 [KJV])
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

• This is the cross country team today. As a team, all run, but only one wins first prize
• Run the course, Paul says

(1 Corinthians 9:25 [KJV])
And 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.

• To master ministry, our personality is to be tempered, temperate. Doctrine is Scriptural, which is gracious, seasoned with salt, designed to unify
• Excellence is not perfection; it is simply mastering
• The world wants is awards and rewards, which fade away, stay here when we pass, for others to keep or toss away
• Our crown one day will never fade, rust, be corrupted and we will never die again, and always have it

(1 Corinthians 9:26 [KJV])
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

• This is not a random sprint in every direction, crazily bouncing all over, sparring with no one, just practice punching
• It is directed, goal oriented, part of the LORD's plan, pulling punches as the battle is the LORD's
• An old testament war stance, which is true for us also

(1 Samuel 17:47 [KJV])
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

(Psalms 24:8 [KJV])
Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

(Psalms 55:18 [KJV])
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me: for there were many with me.

(Psalms 76:3 [KJV])
There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

(Psalms 89:43 [KJV])
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

(Psalms 140:7 [KJV])
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

(Proverbs 21:31 [KJV])
The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.

(Ecclesiastes 9:11 [KJV])
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

(1 Corinthians 9:27 [KJV])
But 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.

• If our testimony is lost because one refuses to hear it, see it, that is on them
• If our testimony is lost because of our own fault, foolishness, then that is on us
• We need to tread lightly, slowly, carefully measuring each step, looking circumspectly and watching what we do in front of unbelievers

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1 Corinthians 10