 |  |
Chapter 9:, on the surface, seems to change the theme, but if we carefully consider
what underlies these verses, we shall see this is not so. Paul now makes it clear that even
an apostle should be ready to renounce his rights for the sake of the truth of the gospel
and those to whom he ministers. He could say:
"Nevertheless we did not use this right . . . . . that we may cause no hindrance to the
gospel of Christ . . . . . that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without
charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel . . . . . to the Jews I became as a
Jew . . . . . to the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I am become all
things to all men, that I may by all means save some" (9: 12, 18, 20, 22 R.V.).
This is a summary of the section now before us. How different Paul's ministry and
witness would have been if he had continually insisted on his rights as an apostle and
leader! But as always, he was willing to put self into the background with a view to the
blessing and building up of others. Doubtless at Corinth there would be some who would
not be pleased with his teaching concerning the restriction of Christian liberty, specially
those whose watchword was freedom at all costs, irrespective of the effect on other
people. Such would question Paul's own authority and say that, if he were a true apostle,
he would not allow himself to be restricted in this way. It is certain that the Apostle
would hardly have spent so long on the subject of apostolic rights, if this had not been
queried at Corinth. He deals with this situation by a series of challenging questions, as
though in debate:
"Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my
work in the Lord?" (9: 1 R.V.).
Do you think (you Corinthians) that because I limit my freedom out of love, my
freedom does not exist? Is not my apostleship real? An apostle must have personal
dealings with the risen Christ to be a true witness. I have actually seen Jesus Christ our
Lord and been commissioned by Him! And as a practical result of my apostleship, you
Corinthians are the product of my labours! Even if others do not recognize my
apostleship, yet at least to you I should be a real apostle, for you are the seal of my
apostleship in the Lord!
So Paul reasons with them in a way that was unanswerable to those who were willing
to face facts. He deals now directly with his critics:
"My defense against those who would like to cross-examine me is this"
(9: 3 100: K. Barrett).
Again, he throws at them a series of rhetorical questions:
"Have we no right to eat and to drink? Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a
believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas (Peter).
Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? What soldier serveth at
his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who
feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?" (9: 4-7 R.V.).
What he says in effect is this. As true apostles, Barnabas and I have the right to
(1) have our food provided by the Christian community. (2) We could bring wives with