Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 9

Verse 1

1 Corinthians 9:1

1 Corinthians 9:1

1 Corinthians 9:1

Verse 2

1 Corinthians 9:2

Seal -- A seal was to authenticate a matter. 2 Corinthians 12:12.

Verse 4

Verse 5

a wife -- If Paul was marriage he didn’t take his wife traveling with him. See ch. 7 that he didn’t have a wife. Paul apparently either never married, or was a widower. The clue that he was a widower would involve the idea that he was a member of the Sanhedrin when he gave his "vote" or "voice" against the Christian. (Acts 26:10) (and this involved the necessity of being married.) He appears to have received the training of a Rabbi, Acts 22:3.

Verse 9

1 Corinthians 9:9

It is written -- Deuteronomy 25:4

Verse 11

1 Corinthians 9:11

Carnal -- Material

Verse 13

1 Corinthians 9:13

Temple -- The Jerusalem temple was still standing when this letter was written.

Verse 18

1 Corinthians 9:18

my reward -- Literally, wages. Not money, but the privilege of preaching the gospel without support, was Paul’s reward.

free of charge -- Paul didn’t preach for money, note his comment to the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:33-34.

Paul preached the gospel without demanding or expecting payment from the people whom he sought to reach with the gospel.

Verse 24

1 Corinthians 9:24

1) v. 24 Energetic attempts

2) v. 25 Eternal reward

3) v. 26 Empty actions

4) v. 27 Exercise restraint

Verse 27

1 Corinthians 9:27

Castaway -- Disqualified for the price. (the Greek word)

See James 5:19 note on APOSTASY