1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 13


     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 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?"

     In the very beginning again, we must remember that Paul is
answering letters that had been written to him from this very strong
church at Corinth. He is reminding them that his authority had come
from him being an apostle of Jesus Christ. He, also, reminds them that
his calling was a dramatic call when he actually came in contact with
the Light of the world. Jesus Christ, Himself, had sent Paul to
minister to these people. It is with no small authority then that he
is doing this. Paul even reminds them, here, that he was the one who
founded the church in Corinth. He goes on to remind them, that they
were Christians through his ministry. He says, you are my children in
the Lord.

     I Corinthians 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."

     Paul is saying to them that in some other places, he might not be
accepted as the voice to the Gentiles, but here at Corinth the church
established was through his preaching. He is saying, you can not deny
me without denying your own salvation. The Jews in nearly every city
had rejected Paul, but he had been accepted here at Corinth by these
believers. Just the fact that there is a large group of believers here
at the church in Corinth, speaks for itself in him being an apostle.

     I Corinthians 9:3 "Mine answer to them that do examine me is
this,"

     It seems that even here at the church that Paul had started, some
had begun to question Paul's authority.

     I Corinthians 9:4 "Have we not power to eat and to drink?"

     Paul is explaining to them that the apostle's living should come
from the people he ministers to. They ministered to the people with no
strings attached, but the people must from a free will support those
who minister to them.

     I Corinthians 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?"

     There were many women, as well as men, that travelled with Paul
and ministered with him. Paul is explaining to them, that they are not
travelling with him as girlfriends, but ministers. Many of the wives
travelled with their husbands who were ministering, as well. Sometimes
these journeys lasted for months and sometimes for years. I will give
just one Scripture, here, which shows why the women travelled with
Paul. Philippians 4:3 "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help
those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also,
and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the book of
life."  We should also read in Luke chapter 8, the first few verses
and we will find that Jesus, also, had women travelling with Him and
the 12 apostles to minister.  Why do not the expositors just accept
this for what it really says? The women ministered with Paul and the
apostles.

     I Corinthians 9:6 "Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to
forbear working?"

     This is a shame from Paul stating that they {Paul and Barnabas}
were worthy to receive their living from the churches they ministered
to. Paul did not want to be obligated to any particular group and made
his living as a tent maker. History teaches that Dorcas gave heavily
to the ministry of Paul.

     I Corinthians 9:7 "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?"

     Paul is showing how ridiculous it is for the minister of God to
have to furnish his own living. In the law of Moses it was taught that
those who ministered were to live of the things of the temple. The
worker is worthy of his hire. Even in the world, the people are paid
for the work they do, whether they are working for the government or
on a job.

     I Corinthians 9:8 "Say I these things as a man? or saith not the
law the same also?"

     Paul was speaking of the law of Moses, which had taught that the
priest, and high priest, and their family were to live of the gifts
brought to the temple.

     I Corinthians 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?"

     Paul is saying, can't you see that this is not speaking of oxen,
but of men who labor for the Lord?

     I Corinthians 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."

     There would be no reason for a person to plough, if he could not
reap of the harvest. Work brings a reward. Our labor is not in vain.
Man works to feed and clothe his family. Paul is saying to these
people, just because this work is for the kingdom of God, does that
mean that the workers will not be able to live of the offerings? Of
course, the answer is obvious. Those who work in the ministry should
take their living of the ministry. Those who minister should not
minister for great wealth or even for the pay, but they must be paid
so they can continue another day.

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

     God's law is if you sow, you shall reap. Paul is saying here,
that they sowed spiritual things, which are much better than the
carnal things they shall reap. What shall a man gain, if he win the
whole world and lose his own soul? The spiritual is much to be
desired.  These people are hesitant to pay the living needed by Paul
and Barnabas, because the labor they had done was beneficial to the
spirit and could not be seen with the eye. Paul is reminding them how
much more valuable the spiritual is than the carnal. If they had all
the carnal wealth in the world and had no spiritual awakening, they
would be poor indeed.

     I Corinthians 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."

     Paul says to them, even though it was his right to have a living
from those he had ministered to here, he did not require it, because
he did not want them thinking that that is why he ministered to them.
Paul is not asking for himself, but teaching them a principal. He does
say, if anyone had a right to be supported of you in the ministry, it
was me.

     We will continue on with this in the next lesson. It is enough to
say that Paul gave them a truth here, that has helped many a preacher.
Ministers have to eat and sleep just like everyone else.  They need
clothes for their backs and a car to get to church in. If they spend
all of their time working for God, they have no time left to make the
money needed for these things. Preachers, or ministers, are supposed
to spend their time in prayer, and study of God's Word, and in
ministering to God's people. They are not to do earthly jobs. They
belong to God 24 hours a day. They have no spare time.
















                      1 Corinthians 13 Questions


1.  What does Paul call himself in verse 1?
2.  Who did Paul say he had seen?
3.  What was the purpose of this chapter written by Paul?
4.  Who had sent Paul to minister to these people?
5.  In verse one, what are some of the things Paul reminds them of?
6.  Why should these people, of all he had ministered to, accept him
    as an apostle?
7.  Verse 3 shows what about Paul's ministry?
8.  Where should the apostle's living come from?
9.  What was Paul talking about in verse 5?
10. What were the women with Paul doing with him?
11. Where do we find one Scripture that answers this question?
12. Where do we find in the Scriptures that women travelled with Jesus
    as well?
13. What other minister of the gospel does Paul speak of in verse 6?
14. How had Paul made his living?
15. Was this where his living should have come from?
16. What woman does history tell us gave heavily to Paul's ministry?
17. What ridiculous things was Paul comparing ministering with no pay
    to in verse 7?
18. What law was Paul speaking of in verse 8?
19. Give the statement that had been made in the law of Moses?
20. He that ploweth should plow in ______.
21. Those who work in the ministry should take their living from the
    __________.
22. Paul said they had sown unto them spiritual things, and should
    reap _______ things.
23. Why were the people reluctant to pay Paul and Barnabas for their
    labors?
24. Why did Paul make his own living by making tents?