Thematic Bible
1 Corinthians 9:1 (show verse)
Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Can it be denied that I have seen Jesus, our Lord? Are not you yourselves my work in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 9:2 (show verse)
If to other men I am not an Apostle, yet at any rate I am one to you; for your very existence as a Christian Church is the seal of my Apostleship.
1 Corinthians 9:3 (show verse)
That is how I vindicate myself to those who criticize me.
No Themes for this verse.
1 Corinthians 9:4 (show verse)
Have we not a right to claim food and drink?
No Themes for this verse.
1 Corinthians 9:5 (show verse)
Have we not a right to take with us on our journeys a Christian sister as our wife, as the rest of the Apostles do--and the Lord's brothers and Peter?
1 Corinthians 9:6 (show verse)
Or again, is it only Barnabas and myself who are not at liberty to give up working with our hands?
1 Corinthians 9:7 (show verse)
What soldier ever serves at his own cost? Who plants a vineyard and yet does not eat any of the grapes? Or who tends a herd of cattle and yet does not taste their milk?
1 Corinthians 9:8 (show verse)
Am I making use of merely worldly illustrations? Does not the Law speak in the same tone?
1 Corinthians 9:9 (show verse)
For in the Law of Moses it is written, "Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."
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
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)
Is God simply thinking about the oxen? Or is it really in our interest that He speaks? Of course, it was written in our interest, because it is His will that when a plough-man ploughs, and a thresher threshes, it should be in the hope of sharing that which comes as the result.
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
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 it is we who sowed the spiritual grain in you, is it a great thing that we should reap a temporal harvest from you?
1 Corinthians 9:12 (show verse)
If other teachers possess that right over you, do not we possess it much more? Yet we have not availed ourselves of the right, but we patiently endure all things rather than hinder in the least degree the progress of the Good News of the Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:13 (show verse)
Do you not know that those who perform the sacred rites have their food from the sacred place, and that those who serve at the altar all alike share with the altar?
1 Corinthians 9:14 (show verse)
In the same way the Lord also directed those who proclaim the Good News to maintain themselves by the 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
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, for my part, have not used, and do not use, my full rights in any of these things. Nor do I now write with that object so far as I myself am concerned, for I would rather die than have anybody make this boast of mine an empty one.
1 Corinthians 9:16 (show verse)
If I go on preaching the Good News, that is nothing for me to boast of; for the necessity is imposed upon me; and alas for me, if I fail to preach it!
1 Corinthians 9:17 (show verse)
And if I preach willingly, I receive my wages; but if against my will, a stewardship has nevertheless been entrusted to me.
1 Corinthians 9:18 (show verse)
What are my wages then? The very fact that the Good News which I preach will cost my hearers nothing, so that I cannot be charged with abuse of my privileges as a Christian preacher.
1 Corinthians 9:19 (show verse)
Though free from all human control, I have made myself the slave of all in the hope of winning as many converts as possible.
1 Corinthians 9:20 (show verse)
To the Jews I have become like a Jew in order to win Jews; to men under the Law as if I were under the Law--although I am not--in order to win those who are under the Law;
1 Corinthians 9:21 (show verse)
to men without Law as if I were without Law--although I am not without Law in relation to God but am abiding in Christ's Law--in order to win those who are without Law.
1 Corinthians 9:22 (show verse)
To the weak I have become weak, so as to gain the weak. To all men I have become all things, in the hope that in every one of these ways I may save some.
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
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 I do everything for the sake of the Good News, that I may share with my hearers in its benefits.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (show verse)
Do you not know that in the foot-race the runners all run, but that only one gets the prize? You must run like him, in order to win with certainty.
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
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)
But every competitor in an athletic contest practices abstemiousness in all directions. They indeed do this for the sake of securing a perishable wreath, but we for the sake of securing one that will not perish.
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
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)
That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air,
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
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 hit hard and straight at my own body and lead it off into slavery, lest possibly, after I have been a herald to others, I should myself be rejected.
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
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