1 Corinthians 9 and verse 1 reads.
1Cor.9:1] 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?
The answer to all three is Yes. And are we not who the Lord had sent him to, again Yes.
1Cor.9:2] 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.
We became his credentials.
1Cor.9:3] Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
[4] Have we not power to eat and to drink?
Do we not have the right to eat or drink? The power comes from God and our obedience to him. Jesus is the bread of life, his blood is the wine. These are our sacraments.
1Cor.9:5] Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
We not only have the power but also the privilege to teach each other the word of God.
1Cor.9:6] Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
[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?
Teaching our brothers and sisters the word of God is referred to as a job. We call them “works”. Knowing they are our works, then isn’t it right that we partake of them also.
1Cor.9:8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
Paul studied at the feet of Gamaliel, a historian and great scholar at the time of Christ. Paul was also a pharisee, he was well educated in the law of Moses.
1Cor.9:9] 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?
You will find this in Deuteronomy 25:4.
1Cor.9:10] 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.
[11] If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
A man has the right to reap his rewards in the flesh as well as in the spirit.
1Cor.9:12] 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.
Power here is “Rights”, in other words, we do not lord over you. But, for the gospel’s sake, we teach.
1Cor.9:13] Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter?
The priest rightfully receives his salary through the church.
1Cor.9:14] Even so hath the Lord 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 better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
Remember Paul was a tent maker, and he never took a salary from the church or any man. “What is freely given, freely give”. This is Paul’s way that I will follow. Though a priest may receive salary from a church, I myself will never take a penny for teaching the word of God. My reward is spiritual and not here of the flesh.
1Car.9:16] 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 not the gospel!
[17] 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.
[18] 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.
[19] For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Our reward in heaven is greater than any man might give.
1Cor.9:20] 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;
[21] 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.
To those that are of Israel and to those that are gentiles, Paul was sent to all. And with that he was given great authority to teach on their level.
1Cor.9:22] 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.
[23] And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
[24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
We run the race of salvation. To us and to those we can teach the word of God to.
1Cor.9:25] 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.
We strive for that crown that is given by the LORD. All other crowns are of this world. We do not want them.
1Cor.9:26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Paul took the stripes for the Word, not for himself.
1Cor.9:27] 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.
That all glory goes to the Lord and not himself. This is how we are to teach others and Paul was giving us a good example on how to do so. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible