Thematic Bible

Themes in 1 Corinthians 9

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Themes in 1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9:1 (show verse)

Am I not a free man? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? [See Acts 9:17; I Cor. 15:8]. Are you people not [the result of] my work in [the service of] the Lord?

Apostles » Saw Christ in the flesh
Jesus Christ » History of » Appears to paul (on the road to damascus)
Paul » Called to be an apostle
Paul » His vision and conversion
Vision » Of paul » Of Christ, on the way to damascus

1 Corinthians 9:2 (show verse)

[Even] if I am not [accepted as] an apostle with other people, at least I am with you. For you people are my seal [i.e., proof] of my apostleship in [the service of] the Lord.

Christian ministers » Success attending » Paul
Paul » Called to be an apostle
Seals » Illustrative of » Converts

1 Corinthians 9:3 (show verse)

My defense to those people who [want to] examine my credentials is this:

No Themes for this verse.

1 Corinthians 9:4 (show verse)

Do we [i.e., Barnabas and Paul. See verse 6] not have the right to eat and drink [i.e., at the expense of the church]?

No Themes for this verse.

1 Corinthians 9:5 (show verse)

Do we not have the right to take a believing [i.e., a Christian] wife with us [on our preaching tours], just like the rest of the apostles, and the Lord's brothers do [i.e., James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. Mark 6:3], and Cephas [i.e., Peter]?

Christ » Appears, after his resurrection » Brethren of
Christian ministers » Marriage of
Jesus Christ » Miscellaneous facts concerning » Brothers (physical) of

1 Corinthians 9:6 (show verse)

Or, are Barnabas and I the only ones who must have a [secular] job for our living?

Barnabas » Characteristics of » Self-supporting
Barnabas » Is reconciled to paul

1 Corinthians 9:7 (show verse)

What soldier ever served [in the army] and paid his own expenses? Who [ever] planted a grape orchard and did not get to eat some of the grapes it produced? Or, who [ever] tended a flock of goats and did not get to drink some of the milk?

Armies » In latter ages received pay
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Milk » Used for food
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Sheep » Milk of, used as food
Vineyards » The design of planting

1 Corinthians 9:8 (show verse)

Do I say these things from a purely human standpoint, or does not the law of Moses also teach the same thing?

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them

1 Corinthians 9:9 (show verse)

For it is written in the law of Moses [Deut. 25:4], "You should not put a muzzle on an ox while it tramples over the grain." Is it the oxen that God is concerned about?

Agriculture » Operations in » Threshing
Animals » God's care of
Bullock (ox) » Laws concerning » Not to be muzzled, when treading grain
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Oxen » Laws respecting » Not to be muzzled when treading out the corn
Oxen » Illustrative » (not muzzled in treading corn,) of minister's right to support
Threshing » Cattle employed in, not to be muzzled
Threshing » By treading
Threshing » Illustrative » Of the labors of ministers

1 Corinthians 9:10 (show verse)

Or, is He not really saying this for our sakes? Yes, it was written for us because the farmer ought to plow in hope [of planting a crop], and the harvester ought to thresh grain in hope of reaping a crop.

Agriculture » Operations in » Plowing
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Oxen » Illustrative » (not muzzled in treading corn,) of minister's right to support
Plowing » Illustrative » Of the labor ministers
Threshing » Illustrative » Of the labors of ministers

1 Corinthians 9:11 (show verse)

If we have planted spiritual seeds [i.e., the Gospel message] among you, is it too much to expect to reap a material harvest from you?

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Reaping » Illustrative of » Ministers receiving temporal provision for spiritual labors
Seed » Sowing, illustrative of » Preaching the gospel

1 Corinthians 9:12 (show verse)

If other people have the right to receive a share of what you have, should we not have even more [right to it]? Yet we did not make use of this right, but instead we put up with whatever we had to so we would not become a hindrance to [the spread of] the good news [about Christ].

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Gospel » General references to
Gospel » Called » Gospel of Christ
The gospel » Be careful not to hinder

1 Corinthians 9:13 (show verse)

Do you not know that those who perform service in the Temple [are permitted to] eat food from the Temple? And those who serve at the Altar receive a share of what is sacrificed on the Altar?

Altar of burnt-offering » The priests » Derived support from
Evangelism » What preachers should do
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Gospel » Who should live of the gospel
Ordination » What has been ordained
priests » Were to live by the altar as they had no inheritance

1 Corinthians 9:14 (show verse)

Even so the Lord directed that those who proclaim the good news [about Christ] should get their living from [preaching] that good news.

Evangelism » What preachers should do
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Gospel » Who should live of the gospel
Leaders » Support of » In the Christian church
Ministers » Remuneration of » In the Christian church
Ministers » Support of » In the Christian church
Ordination » What has been ordained
Religious » Support of » In the Christian church
ministerial Support » In the Christian church

1 Corinthians 9:15 (show verse)

But I have not availed myself of any of these rights. And I am not writing this so that it would be done in my case, for I would rather die than have anyone make my boast [i.e., of preaching without financial support] an empty one.

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Leaders » Support of » Self-support as practised by paul
Paul's » Voyage to rome - with luke, aristarchus, and others ac 27-28 » Self-support
Religious » Support of » Self-support as practised by paul

1 Corinthians 9:16 (show verse)

[But] I do not have anything to boast about if I preach the good news because I am compelled to do it. For it would be too bad for me if I did not preach the good news.

Duty » Pressure of » It sounds a woe in the ears of him who falters
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Woe to those who do not preach the gospel
Pressure of duty » It sounds a woe in the ears of him who falters

1 Corinthians 9:17 (show verse)

For if I preached because [I personally decided] I wanted to, I could claim a reward. But if I did not preach from a personal decision to do so, then it would be because I was entrusted with the task [by God].

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
The gospel » Ministers have a dispensation to preach
Man » Possessed of » Will
Ministers » When faithful » Are rewarded
Stewardship » Truths to be remembered in relation to » Of the gospel

1 Corinthians 9:18 (show verse)

Then what is my reward? It is being able to preach the good news without receiving financial support [for it], so as not to claim my full rights in [the work of preaching] the good news.

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Gospel » Called » Gospel of Christ
Ministers » When faithful » Are rewarded
Ministers » Should preach » Without charge, if possible

1 Corinthians 9:19 (show verse)

For although I am free from [being accountable to] all people, I placed myself under obligation to them [as a slave], so as to win as many as possible [to Christ].

Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Liberty » Limitations of
Christian Liberty » Is freedom from » Bondage of man
Paul » Characteristics of » Tact
Self-denial » Exemplified
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of
Tact » In preaching

1 Corinthians 9:20 (show verse)

I behaved like a Jew in front of the Jews in order to win Jews [to Christ]. I behaved like a person who was under [obligation to observe] the law [i.e., Jews] in front of those who observe that law, although I was not [really] under [obligation to] it. I did this to win those who are under [obligation to observe] the law.

Christian ministers » Tact of
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Paul » Characteristics of » Tact
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of
Tact » In preaching

1 Corinthians 9:21 (show verse)

I [also] behaved like a person without [obligation to observe] the law [i.e., a Gentile] in front of those who are not obligated to it, although I was not [really] without obligation to God's law; but was under [obligation to] Christ's law. I did this to win those who are without [obligation to observe] the law [i.e., Gentiles].

Christian ministers » Tact of
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Justification before God » By faith » Does not make void the law
The law of God » Is the rule of life to saints
Paul » Characteristics of » Tact
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of
Tact » In preaching

1 Corinthians 9:22 (show verse)

I behaved like a weak person in front of weak people [See 8:9-12], in order to win them over [i.e., to help them become stronger]. I have become all things to all people so that, in every way, I could save some of them.

Activity » The Call of Duty » Zeal in soul winning
Adaption of truth » Paul's example
Christian ministers » Tact of
Compassion and sympathy » Exemplified » Paul
Diligence » Spiritual
Duty » To brethren » To the weak
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Fervour » The Call of Duty » Zeal in soul winning
Paul » Characteristics of » Tact
Salvation » Ministers » Should use self-denial to lead others to
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of
Tact » In preaching
Truth » Adaption of » Paul's example
Weak » Defender of the » Duty to the
Zeal » Evil » For soul winning

1 Corinthians 9:23 (show verse)

And everything I do is for the sake of [the work of] the Gospel, so that I may share in its benefits.

Christian ministers » Tact of
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of

1 Corinthians 9:24 (show verse)

Do you not know that [although] everyone runs in a race, only one person wins the prize? So, you should run in order to win.

Ambition » Ambition, worldly, examples of » Holy ambition, general references to
Athletics » The Christian life compared to a foot-race » Striving for the prize
Christian race » The Christian life compared to a foot-race » Striving for the prize
Games » Figurative » Of the Christian life
Games » Foot races
Holy » General references to » Ambition
Prize » A reward of merit
Race » Foot race » Figurative
Righteous » Compared with » Runners in a race
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Foot races
compared to Saints » Runners in a race
Striving » What to strive for
Striving » Those that strive for the mastery
Temperance » Who is temperate

1 Corinthians 9:25 (show verse)

And everyone who [strenuously] competes in athletic events exercises self-control during training. Now they do this to receive a laurel wreath that withers, but we [do it to receive] a lasting crown.

Crown » Figurative
Crowns » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
Earnestness » In prayer » In seeking salvation
Reward » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
the Reward of saints » Described as » An incorruptible crown
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Crowning of conquerors
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Training of combatants
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
Social duties » Temperance pr 23; isa 5; 28; da 1 » General references to
Spiritual » Sowing » Striving
Striving » Those that strive for the mastery
Temperance » Pr 23; isa 5; 28; da 1 » General references to
Temperance » Who is temperate
the future » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial

1 Corinthians 9:26 (show verse)

So, I run with a purpose and I fight that way [too]; I do not just shadow box.

Boxing » Figurative
Games » Figurative » Of the Christian life
Games » Foot races
Games » Figurative » Fighting wild "beasts", of spiritual conflict
Games » Gladiatorial
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial

1 Corinthians 9:27 (show verse)

But I work out and get my body in shape [i.e., spiritually], so that after preaching to other people, I myself do not become disqualified [i.e., for winning the prize from God. See verse 24].

Affections » Carnal, should be mortified
Affections » Carnal affections should be mortified
Appetite » Kept in subjection
Appetites » Restrained
Captivity » Figurative
Christian conduct » Controlling the body
Ministers » Should be » Self-denying
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Training of combatants
Self-denial » Exemplified
Self-denial » Danger of neglecting
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the body must be kept under subjection
Temperance » In relation to food in relation to speech » Appetites to be restrained
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial