Thematic Bible
1 Corinthians 9:1 (show verse)
Am I not free [unrestrained and exempt from any obligation]? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our [risen] Lord [in person]? Are you not [the result and proof of] my work in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 9:2 (show verse)
If I am not [considered] an apostle to others, at least I am one to you; for you are the seal and the certificate and the living evidence of my apostleship in the Lord [confirming and authenticating it].
1 Corinthians 9:3 (show verse)
This is my defense to those who would put me on trial and interrogate me [concerning my authority as an apostle]:
No Themes for this verse.
1 Corinthians 9:4 (show verse)
Have we not the right to our food and drink [at the expense of the churches]?
No Themes for this verse.
1 Corinthians 9:5 (show verse)
Have we not the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?
1 Corinthians 9:6 (show verse)
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to stop doing manual labor [in order to support our ministry]?
1 Corinthians 9:7 (show verse)
[Consider this:] Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?
1 Corinthians 9:8 (show verse)
Do I say these things only from a man’s perspective? Does the Law not endorse the same principles?
1 Corinthians 9:9 (show verse)
For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain [to keep it from eating the grain].” Is it [only] for oxen that God cares?
Agriculture » Operations in » Threshing
Animals » God's care of
Bullock (ox) » Laws concerning » Not to be muzzled, when treading grain
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Oxen » Laws respecting » Not to be muzzled when treading out the corn
Oxen » Illustrative » (not muzzled in treading corn,) of minister's right to support
Threshing » Cattle employed in, not to be muzzled
Threshing » By treading
Threshing » Illustrative » Of the labors of ministers
Animals » God's care of
Bullock (ox) » Laws concerning » Not to be muzzled, when treading grain
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Oxen » Laws respecting » Not to be muzzled when treading out the corn
Oxen » Illustrative » (not muzzled in treading corn,) of minister's right to support
Threshing » Cattle employed in, not to be muzzled
Threshing » By treading
Threshing » Illustrative » Of the labors of ministers
1 Corinthians 9:10 (show verse)
Or does He speak entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake: The plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the harvest.
Agriculture » Operations in » Plowing
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Oxen » Illustrative » (not muzzled in treading corn,) of minister's right to support
Plowing » Illustrative » Of the labor ministers
Threshing » Illustrative » Of the labors of ministers
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Ministers » Their people are bound, to » Support them
Oxen » Illustrative » (not muzzled in treading corn,) of minister's right to support
Plowing » Illustrative » Of the labor ministers
Threshing » Illustrative » Of the labors of ministers
1 Corinthians 9:11 (show verse)
If we have sown [the good seed of] spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
1 Corinthians 9:12 (show verse)
If others share in this rightful claim over you, do not we even more? However, we did not exercise this right, but we put up with everything so that we will not hinder [the spread of] the good news of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:13 (show verse)
Do you not know that those who officiate in the sacred services of the temple eat from the temple [offerings of meat and bread] and those who regularly attend the altar have their share from the [offerings brought to the] altar?
1 Corinthians 9:14 (show verse)
So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
Evangelism » What preachers should do
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Gospel » Who should live of the gospel
Leaders » Support of » In the Christian church
Ministers » Remuneration of » In the Christian church
Ministers » Support of » In the Christian church
Ordination » What has been ordained
Religious » Support of » In the Christian church
ministerial Support » In the Christian church
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Gospel » Who should live of the gospel
Leaders » Support of » In the Christian church
Ministers » Remuneration of » In the Christian church
Ministers » Support of » In the Christian church
Ordination » What has been ordained
Religious » Support of » In the Christian church
ministerial Support » In the Christian church
1 Corinthians 9:15 (show verse)
But I have used none of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me now. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone deprive me of my boast [in this matter of financial support].
1 Corinthians 9:16 (show verse)
For if I [merely] preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled [that is, absolutely obligated to do it]. Woe to me if I do not preach the good news [of salvation]!
1 Corinthians 9:17 (show verse)
For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship.
1 Corinthians 9:18 (show verse)
What then is my reward? [Just this:] that, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge [to everyone], so as not to take advantage of my rights [as a preacher and apostle] in [preaching] the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:19 (show verse)
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more [for Christ].
1 Corinthians 9:20 (show verse)
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews [for Christ]; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might win those who are under the Law.
1 Corinthians 9:21 (show verse)
To those who are without (outside) the Law, [I became] as one without the Law, though [I am] not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
1 Corinthians 9:22 (show verse)
To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].
Activity » The Call of Duty » Zeal in soul winning
Adaption of truth » Paul's example
Christian ministers » Tact of
Compassion and sympathy » Exemplified » Paul
Diligence » Spiritual
Duty » To brethren » To the weak
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Fervour » The Call of Duty » Zeal in soul winning
Paul » Characteristics of » Tact
Salvation » Ministers » Should use self-denial to lead others to
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of
Tact » In preaching
Truth » Adaption of » Paul's example
Weak » Defender of the » Duty to the
Zeal » Evil » For soul winning
Adaption of truth » Paul's example
Christian ministers » Tact of
Compassion and sympathy » Exemplified » Paul
Diligence » Spiritual
Duty » To brethren » To the weak
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
Fervour » The Call of Duty » Zeal in soul winning
Paul » Characteristics of » Tact
Salvation » Ministers » Should use self-denial to lead others to
Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of
Tact » In preaching
Truth » Adaption of » Paul's example
Weak » Defender of the » Duty to the
Zeal » Evil » For soul winning
1 Corinthians 9:23 (show verse)
And I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings along with you.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (show verse)
Ambition » Ambition, worldly, examples of » Holy ambition, general references to
Athletics » The Christian life compared to a foot-race » Striving for the prize
Christian race » The Christian life compared to a foot-race » Striving for the prize
Games » Figurative » Of the Christian life
Games » Foot races
Holy » General references to » Ambition
Prize » A reward of merit
Race » Foot race » Figurative
Righteous » Compared with » Runners in a race
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Foot races
compared to Saints » Runners in a race
Striving » What to strive for
Striving » Those that strive for the mastery
Temperance » Who is temperate
Athletics » The Christian life compared to a foot-race » Striving for the prize
Christian race » The Christian life compared to a foot-race » Striving for the prize
Games » Figurative » Of the Christian life
Games » Foot races
Holy » General references to » Ambition
Prize » A reward of merit
Race » Foot race » Figurative
Righteous » Compared with » Runners in a race
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Foot races
compared to Saints » Runners in a race
Striving » What to strive for
Striving » Those that strive for the mastery
Temperance » Who is temperate
1 Corinthians 9:25 (show verse)
Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].
Crown » Figurative
Crowns » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
Earnestness » In prayer » In seeking salvation
Reward » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
the Reward of saints » Described as » An incorruptible crown
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Crowning of conquerors
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Training of combatants
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
Social duties » Temperance pr 23; isa 5; 28; da 1 » General references to
Spiritual » Sowing » Striving
Striving » Those that strive for the mastery
Temperance » Pr 23; isa 5; 28; da 1 » General references to
Temperance » Who is temperate
the future » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial
Crowns » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
Earnestness » In prayer » In seeking salvation
Reward » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
the Reward of saints » Described as » An incorruptible crown
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Crowning of conquerors
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Training of combatants
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
Social duties » Temperance pr 23; isa 5; 28; da 1 » General references to
Spiritual » Sowing » Striving
Striving » Those that strive for the mastery
Temperance » Pr 23; isa 5; 28; da 1 » General references to
Temperance » Who is temperate
the future » Spiritual crowns » The incorruptible crown
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial
1 Corinthians 9:26 (show verse)
Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing].
Boxing » Figurative
Games » Figurative » Of the Christian life
Games » Foot races
Games » Figurative » Fighting wild "beasts", of spiritual conflict
Games » Gladiatorial
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial
Games » Figurative » Of the Christian life
Games » Foot races
Games » Figurative » Fighting wild "beasts", of spiritual conflict
Games » Gladiatorial
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial
1 Corinthians 9:27 (show verse)
But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].
Affections » Carnal, should be mortified
Affections » Carnal affections should be mortified
Appetite » Kept in subjection
Appetites » Restrained
Captivity » Figurative
Christian conduct » Controlling the body
Ministers » Should be » Self-denying
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Training of combatants
Self-denial » Exemplified
Self-denial » Danger of neglecting
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the body must be kept under subjection
Temperance » In relation to food in relation to speech » Appetites to be restrained
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial
Affections » Carnal affections should be mortified
Appetite » Kept in subjection
Appetites » Restrained
Captivity » Figurative
Christian conduct » Controlling the body
Ministers » Should be » Self-denying
The Roman empire » Allusions to grecian game adapted by » Training of combatants
Self-denial » Exemplified
Self-denial » Danger of neglecting
Self-denial » Necessary » To the triumph of saints
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the body must be kept under subjection
Temperance » In relation to food in relation to speech » Appetites to be restrained
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War » Figurative » To be carried on » With self-denial
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
Warfare of saints » To be carried on » With self-denial