The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS 9:7 - 26

1893

Preachers of the Gospel ought to be supported by the Gospel

not the gospel! The promise of rewards to all who are found faithful when CHRIST returns (Fulfilled - Rev 4:2) 17 For if I do this thing willingly, 9 I have a reward: but if against my will, a 10 dispensa- tion of the gospel is committed unto me. P 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ 11 without charge, that I abuse not my 12 power in the gospel. Witnessing and seeing people saved should be the preacher’s reward 19 For though I be free from all men, 13 yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews 14 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; 21 To them that are without law, as with- out law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I ammade all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Crown #1 - The Incorruptible Crown (The Spiritual Character Crown) 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? 15 So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is 16 temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; 9 but we an incorruptible. P

1. Quoted from the OT - Deut 25:4 (See - I Tim 5:17- 18) 2. II Tim 2:5-6 3. Rom 15:27 4. Acts 18:3 & 20:33, 34 & II Cor 11:7-9 & 12:13 & I Thess 2:6 & II Thess 3:8-9 5. or, “scriptual authority” 6. Lev 6:16,26 & Num 18:8-31 & Deut 12:11-12,19 & 14:22-29 & 26:10-13 7. that is, “the OT priests and Levites” 8. or, “commanded” - Mt 10:10 & Lk 10:7 & I Tim 5:18 9. Fulfilled - Rev 4:2 (NT Rewards) 10. that is, “an order from God” - Acts 9:15 & Rom 11:14 & Gal 2:7 13. Note - Some- times we have to swallow who we are in order to make room for who people need us to be. 14. Acts 21:26 11. I Thess 2:6-9 12. or, “scriptual authority”

7 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? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, 1 Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: 2 that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 3 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? 4 Nevertheless we have not used this 5 power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. God’s men are to be cared for through the tithes of God’s people 13 Do ye not know that they which min- ister about holy things 6 live of the things of the temple? and 7 they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord 8 ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 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 bet- ter for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 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

15. Heb 12:1 16. or, “self- disciplined”

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 9:12 Paul refused to use his power (scriptural authority) to seize the tithe from the following three churches: Ephesus (Acts 20:34); Thessalonicia (I Thess 2:6-9 and II Thess 3:8-9) and Corinth (I Cor 9:12 and II Cor 11:7-9 & 12:13) 9:14 In the same manor ( Even so ) in which the priests and the Levites were cared for in the OT (via the tithe – vs. 13), even so the preacher of the Gospel in the NT is to be cared for today. Arthur W. Pink in Tithing notes:

“ Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.” The emphatic words there are “Even so” in the beginning of the 14th verse. The word “tithe” is not found in these two verses but it is most clearly implied. 1

9:25 The first crown mentioned in the Bible that a Christian can earn is the “ incorruptible” crown. This crown is bestowed upon those believers who faithfully learn to discipline themselves to develop good spiritual habits (daily Bible reading, prayer, witnessing, giving, etc.). Paul saw life as a sort of “spiritual Olympics” and urged Christians everywhere to stay on a spiritual schedule (II Tim 2:5, Lev 23:2 and Rev 4:10 ). 1 Pink, Arthur W. Tithing, Venice , FLA, Chapel Library, ?. Print.