1Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Emmanuel the Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord?

1Corinthians 9:5 Have we not power to lead about.(to have in attendance with us; to bring along with us and therefor expect them to be accomodated as to food and lodging also).a sister, a mate, as well as other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and Cephas?

1Corinthians 9:7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges?.(to war the spiritual warfare, we need the prayers and the envisioning of others).Who plants a vineyard and eats not of the fruit thereof? Or who feeds a flock and eats not of the milk of the flock?

1Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Don't muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God care about oxen?

Look after those from whom you are fed spiritually.

1Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

1Corinthians 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.

Romans 1:16.

1Corinthians 9:13 Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple?.(that is, they are supported in their work by the offerings of the people and by the provisions which were made for the temple service back then:.Numbers 18:24-32).and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

In the Old Testament, the priests looked after the sacrifices the people brought to the altar.

1Corinthians 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!

1Corinthians 9:17 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.

Paul is saying that if I don't want to do this, the obligation is still on me to do it, so I might as well do it with a good heart and get a reward, than do it with the attitude of wanting to do something else instead. If Paul did it out of some fear, that would show his heart wasn't in it and it would be the same if others contributed to him, who could then say, 'Because of me helping Paul, the gospel got out to others'. The group in Corinth was not much of a spiritual group as yet.(1Corinthians 1:10; 3:3; 11:18).and so Paul saw that if some supported him and not others it could lead to division there, so he supported himself as the next verse here shows.

1Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that.(or, my reward is this), when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ.without charge.(*), that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

That is, abuse by placing others in an obligatory position to support me.

Paul supported himself as a tentmaker:.Acts 18:1-3; 20:33,34; 1Corinthians 4:12,13; 1Thessalonians 2:9; 2Thessalonians 3:8.

1Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all.(Philippians 2:3), that I might gain the more.

Mark 9:35.

1Corinthians 9:20 And unto the Judeans I became as one of them, that I might gain the favor of them that are under the law, as being under the law.(Paul knew the Mosaic Law well as he was brought up with it and could intelligently reason with anyone about it's true meanings), that I might gain them that are under the law;

1Corinthians 9:21 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.

1Corinthians 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak. I make myself all things to all people that I might by all means save some.

Since everyone is already saved (2Timothy 1:9), with most not knowing that yet, this scripture is talking about alerting them to that.

Paul's foremost thrust was this in his travels:.Acts 18:23.

Paul (1Corinthians 1:1) knew the value of being in rapport with others. See the psychology of Paul.

1Corinthians 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

1Corinthians 9:24 Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.

Barnes Notes: When Paul says that but one receives the prize, his idea is, that as they make an effort to obtain the prize, so should we:.Hebrews 12:1.

1Corinthians 9:25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. They.(those of worldly character).do it to obtain a corruptible crown.(everyone not in Christ wants to be preeminent, because they don't know that in Christ you are where your real self, the spirit that is you longs to be:.Colossians 2:9), but we an incorruptible.

1Corinthians 15:53.

You don't want to let your ego run your life away from what really matters and that is the spiritual growth you can achieve and the reward for achieving it that'll last through eternity. It's not just this life folks which is a stage for learning, learning to rise up higher.

1Timothy 6:17 "...the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." John 10:10 "...I am come that they'll have life more abundantly." Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.".Ancient David knew this when he ran boldly against Goliath:.1Samuel 17:26.

1Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air.

Beating the air is how most people live their lives not having anything but the ego level to go by.

1Corinthians 9:27 but I keep under my body.(aware of his body).and bring it into subjection.(master these).lest that by any means when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway.
 

....continues to Chapter 10

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