Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 9

Verse 1

not. First two and fourth occurance. App-105 .

apostle . App-189 . The texts transpose the first two questions.

not . Third occurance. App-105 .

seen . App-133 .

Jesus Christ = Jesus. App-98 .

Lord . App-98 .

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 2

unto = to.

others . App-124 .

doubtless = at least. seal. Greek. sphragis.

apostleship . Greek. apostole. See Acts 1:25 .

Verse 3

answer = defence. Greek. apologia . See Acts 22:1 .

examine . App-122 .

Verse 4

not . Greek. me ou. The me stands for the question.

power = authority, or right. Greek. exousia. App-172 .

to eat, &c . i.e. at the expense of the assembly.

Verse 5

a sister a wife . i.e. a wife who is a believer, and so entitled to be provided for, as well as her husband.

other = the rest of the. App-124 .

brethren . See App-182 .

Verse 6

Barnabas . It would appear then that Barnabas adopted the same method as Paul, of working for his living.

to forbear working = of not (Greek. me) working.

Verse 7

goeth a warfare = serves as a soldier. Greek. strateuomai. Occ elsewhere, Luke 3:14 (which see). 2Co 10:3 . 1 Timothy 1:18 . 2 Timothy 2:4 .James 4:1 . 1 Peter 2:11 .

charges . Greek. opsonion. Literally soldier's rations. Occurs elsewhere and translated "wages", Luke 3:14 . Rom 6:23 . 2 Corinthians 11:8 .

vineyard . The only reference to a vineyard in N.T., besides our Lord's three parables.

of . App-104 .

Verse 8

Say I, &c . The question is introduced by me (1 Corinthians 9:4 ), and there is an Ellipsis of "only".

as-according to . Greek. kata . App-104 .

man . Greek. anthropos ( App-123 .), i.e. according to the universal practice of men.

the same also = also these things.

Verse 9

is = has been.

Moses . Occurs twice in this Epistle, here and 1 Corinthians 10:2 . Compare Matthew 8:4 .

muzzle . Greek. phimoo. See Luke 4:38 (hold . . . peace).

treadeth out the corn = thresheth. Greek. aloao. Only here, 1 Corinthians 9:10 and 1 Timothy 5:18 , where the same quotation from Deuteronomy 25:4 is found.

Doth, &c . The question begins with me , as in 1 Corinthians 9:8 , nnd expects the answer "No". But He does care. See Job 38:41 .Matthew 6:26 ; Matthew 10:29 . So there is an Ellipsis of the word "only" after "oxen". Compare 1 Corinthians 9:8 .

God . App-98 .

Verse 10

for our sakes = on account of (Greek. dia . App-104 . 1 Corinthians 9:2 ) us.

is = was.

ploweth . Greek. arotriao. Only here and Luke 17:7 .

should = ought to.

in = upon. App-104 .

thresheth . See 1 Corinthians 9:9 .

should be, &c . The texts read "(should do so) upon the hope of partaking (of the fruit). "

be partaker = share. Greek. metecho. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 9:12 ; 1Co 10:17 , 1 Corinthians 10:21 , 1 Corinthians 10:30 . Hebrews 2:14 ; Hebrews 5:13 ; Hebrews 7:13 .

Verse 11

spiritual things = the spiritual (things). Greek. pneumatikos. See 1 Corinthians 12:1 .

carnal . Greek. sarkikos. See Romans 7:14 .

Verse 12

have not used = did not use. Greek. chraomai. See Acts 27:3 .

suffer = bear. Greek. stego, to cover. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 13:7 . 1Th 3:1 , 1 Thessalonians 3:5 (forbear).

lest, &c . = in order that (Greek. hina) we might not (Greek. me. App-105 ).

hinder . Literally give any hindrance. Greek. engkope. Only here. Compare Acts 24:4 .

gospel . App-140 .

Christ = the Christ. App-98 .

Verse 13

Do ye not know = Know ye not. See 1 Corinthians 3:16 .

know . App-132 .

minister . Same word as "work" 1 Corinthians 9:6 .

holy things . Greek. hieros. Only here and 2 Timothy 3:15 .

live = eat. See Deuteronomy 18:1 .

temple . Greek. hieron, neut. of hieros. The temple generally. See Matthew 23:16 .

wait . Greek. prosedreuo. Only here, but the texts read paredreuo, same meaning.

are partakers = divide. Greek. summerizomai. Only here.

Verse 14

Even so, &c . = So did the Lord also ordain.

ordained . Greek. diatasso. See Acts 7:44 .

preach . App-121 .

Verse 15

neither have I written = and I wrote not (Greek. ou) .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

unto = in ( App-104 .), i.e. in my case.

better, &c . = well for me to die, rather.

any man . Greek. tis. App-123 . The texts read oudeis.

make . . . void . Greek. kenoo. See Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:7 .

glorying = boasting, as in 1 Corinthians 5:6 .

Verse 16

though = if. App-118 .

preach the gospel . App-121 .

nothing to glory of = no (Greek. ou) (cause of) boasting (as in 1 Corinthians 9:15 ).

necessity . Gr . ananke. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:37 .

is laid = lies. Greek. epikeimai. See Acts 27:20 .

yea . The texts read "for".

if . App-118 .

Verse 17

do = practise. Greek. prasso. See John 3:20 .

willingly = being willing. Greek. hekon. Only here and Romans 8:20 .

against my will = being unwilling. Greek. akon . Only here.

a dispensation , &c, = I have been entrusted with (Greek. pisteuo. App-150 .) a stewardship. I am therefore in duty bound to fulfill it.

dispensation = stewardship, or administration, the work of an oikonomoa (1 Corinthians 4:1 ). Elsewhere, Luke 16:2 , Luke 16:3 , Luke 16:4 .Ephesians 1:10 ; Ephesians 3:2 . Col 1:25 . 1 Timothy 1:4 .

is committed . App-150 .

Verse 18

of Christ . The texts omit.

without charge = without cost or expense. Greek. adapanos. Only here. Compare dapane , cost (Luke 14:28 ), and dapanao, spend (Luke 15:14 ).

that, &c . Literally unto (Greek. eis) my not abusing.

abuse = use to the full. See 1 Corinthians 7:31 .

Verse 19

all =

all things , i.e. restrictions of meats, &c.

have . Omit.

made myself servant = enslaved myself. App-190 .

gain . Greek. kerdaino. See Acts 27:21 .

Verse 20

under . App-104 .

the law = law. The texts add, "Not as being myself under law".

Verse 21

without law . Greek. anomos. App-128 . Here used in the sense of Romans 2:12 , Romans 2:14 .

under the law . Greek. ennomos. See Acts 19:39 .

Verse 22

made = become.

some . App-124 .

Verse 23

might be = may become.

partaker . Greek. sunkoinonos. See Romans 11:17 .

you = it, i.e. the gospel. Sharer in its triumphs.

Verse 24

race = race-course. Greek. stadion. Elsewhere translated "furlong", the course being usually of this length.

prize . Greek. brabeion. Only here and Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:14 . Compare the verb, Colossians 3:15 . (rule).

So . i.e. as these runners do.

obtain = lay hold of. Greek. katalambano. See Acts 4:13 .

Verse 25

striveth for the mastery . Greek. agonizomai. See Luke 13:24 . The usual term for contending in the games.

is temperate = exercises self-control. Greek. enkrateuomai. See 1 Corinthians 7:9 . This refers to the severe training, extending over many months, before the contest.

to obtain = in order that (Greek. hina) they may receive, Same word as "receive" in 1 Corinthians 9:24 .

corruptible . Greek. phthartos. See Romans 1:23 .

crown . Greek. stephanos. See first occurance: Matthew 27:29 . The crown was a chaplet of wild olive, parsley, &c.

incorruptible . Greek. aphthartos. See Romans 1:23 . Compare 1 Peter 5:4 .

Verse 26

as . "As" should precede "not".

uncertainly . Greek. adelos. Only here. Compare 1 Corinthians 14:8 . 1 Timothy 6:17 . He runs with clear understanding of the conditions and object. See "one thing", Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:13 .

fight = fight with the fist, box. Greek. pukteuo. Only here. The noun pugme , fist, occ Mark 7:3 . In these contests it was more than boxing. Instead of a padded glove the hand was covered with the cestus, which consisted of leather bands, studded with pieces of metal.

as one, &c . Read "as one not beating the air". This was called skiamachia, shadow-fighting.

Verse 27

keep under . Greek. hupopiazo. See Luke 18:5 .

bring . . . into subjection = reduce to slavery. Greek. doulagogeo. Only here. Compare App-190 .

lest that by any means . Greek. mepos .

when, &c . = having preached. Greek. kerusso . App-121 . There is an appropriateness in using here this verb, "to act as a herald". The herald summons the competitors.

be = become, or prove to be.

a castaway = disapproved, or rejected (for the prize). Greek. adokimos. See Romans 1:28 .