The Self-denial of Paul
—1Corinthians 9
In this chapter for study, (1Corinthians 9), Paul saw the need to defend his ministry again. He reminded the Corinthian Christians how he had endured much self-denial to bring them the gospel and establish the church. Paul willingly suffered loss in several ways for their gain.
1 Paul’s Status
Verses 1-2
Some in Corinth questioned Paul’s apostleship. His methods differed from the Twelve, even though his gospel was the same. His freedom to adapt himself to different groups made some suspicious, as though flexibility disqualified him from being a true apostle.
Paul reminded the church that he had seen the risen Lord Jesus. That was a significant qualification of apostleship. But he said that the Corinthian Christians themselves were his best qualification. They demonstrated his workmanship. He said that they were the seal of his apostleship, his letter of commendation. They were the living proof of his work in Christ. (2Corinthians 3:1-3).
Paul could have turned his back on the church that doubted him, and worked only among those who fully accepted him. But he denied himself that easier course and faced the opposition. He bore the burden of defending his status for their sake.
2 Paul’s Rights
Verses 3-12
Paul noted that other apostles and preachers received financial support for themselves and their believing wives. Were he and Barnabas alone expected to go without and make do?
He appealed to common sense: soldiers, farmers, and shepherds all receive material benefit from their work. Even the law commanded that an ox treading grain should not be muzzled but be allowed to eat. Those who plough and those who thresh expect to share in the harvest.
Paul and Barnabas sowed spiritual seed among the Corinthians, so both of them had a right to expect a material harvest in return. Yet they voluntarily denied themselves this right .
3 Paul’s Waiver
Verses 12-14
To strengthen the point, Paul added another example: the priests who served in the temple ate from the offerings. Then he cited the authority of Jesus himself:
"The Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel."
Even so, Paul and Barnabas waived this right. They endured self-denial so that no one could accuse them of preaching for money or hinder the gospel by raising objections. Yet Paul’s reason went deeper than avoiding criticism.
4 Paul’s Boast
Verses 15-18
Paul felt a deep sense of stewardship laid on him by the Lord. Preaching the gospel was not optional; he would suffer woe if he failed to do it. But preaching without charge was something he could freely choose, and in Corinth he chose it for good reasons.
Paul never forgot that he had once persecuted Christ. Although forgiven, he longed to serve Christ wholeheartedly. Accepting wages in Corinth would not have been wrong, but he felt that declining them allowed him to honour his apostleship more fully, and offer something meaningful to the Lord.
Paul found a sense of self-worth through self-denial. He calls this his "boast" and "reward" using those words in an ironic sense. His "boast" was not self‑promotion but the satisfaction of preaching free of charge.
Of course at times this "boast" might not have been practicable to maintain without limiting the Lord’s work. So Paul would deny himself his "boast" for a while and be glad of some support as shown in the letter to the church at Philipi.
5 Paul’s Servanthood
Verses 19-23
Paul said he was free from all men. Like Jesus, he was not bound by human traditions. His rule was the gospel, the law of Christ. Yet he adapted his manner of ministry to those he served. He became "all things to all men" to make his ministry more effective in winning souls for Christ.
Paul had to deny himself his comfort zone when working among Gentiles. He had to step outside the familiar patterns of synagogue preaching. The Corinthian church included both Jews and Gentiles, and Paul served both, denying himself the simplicity of a single cultural mode.
6 Paul’s Discipline
Verses 24-27
Paul mentioned last of all that he practised self-discipline like those who run a race to win a prize. He disciplined his body, bringing it into subjection, controlling its inclinations, denying its desires. With confidence, he hoped to win his prize —a fruitful ministry in this world and eternal life in the next.