翻译: English 中文 Big5

歌林多前书９

Giving Up Personal Rights and
Freedoms to Serve God

9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle?
Haven't I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren't you my work in the Lord?
9:2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you;
for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this.

9:4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
9:5 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer,
even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
9:6 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
9:7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense?
Who plants a vineyard, and doesn't eat of its fruit?
Or who feeds a flock, and doesn't drink from the flock's milk?

9:8 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men?
Or doesn't the law also say the same thing?

9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses,
"You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." (Deut 25:4)
Is it for the oxen that God cares,
9:10 or does he say it assuredly for our sake?
Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope,
and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.

9:11 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
9:12 If others partake of this right over you, don't we yet more?
Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things,
that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

9:13 Don't you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple,
and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?

9:14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should live from the gospel.

9:15 But I have used none of these things,
and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case;

for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

I am obligated to preach the gospel

9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about;
for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the gospel.

9:17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward.
But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

9:18 What then is my reward?
That, when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge,
so as not to abuse my authority in the gospel.

But I make myself a slave

9:19 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all,
that I might gain the more.

9:20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews;
to those who are under the law, as under the law,
that I might gain those who are under the law;

9:21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,
but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

9:22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak.
I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

9:23 Now I do this for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker of it.

To win the prize

9:24 Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?
Run like that, that you may win.

9:25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things.
Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

9:26 I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,
9:27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission,
lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

问题讨论

What rights does Paul have that he gave up?

Why might Paul's exercising of his rights hinder the gospel?

In vs 9 Paul quotes the Law (Deut 25:4) and applies it to Christians. Yet Christians are not under the Law.

So in view of Paul's application, how should the Laws of Moses be applied to the Christian life?

What is the crown that Paul is trying to obtain by his performance?

Are there personal rights and freedoms that you have given up to serve Christ?

What motivates you to serve the body of Christ by giving up such personal rights and freedoms?

COMMENTS

Paul defends his ministry:

rather than hinder the gospel of Christ

Xrefs on Paul's attitude towards payment for ministry:

"I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesians elders in Acts 20

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us." 2Thess 3:6-9

"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." 2Cor 2:17

Why did Paul not want to get payed for his ministry? He certainly had the right to do so. But he gave up his right for a number of reasons.

"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

He also wanted to served as an example to follow. Though a teacher may say, "Do what I say, not what I do", it is inevitable that our actions speak louder than our words. By earning his wages working on a secular job, he could both meet the practical needs of others and served as an example. And in addition, people could more easily identify with him. This is a problem that professional minsters face. They may urge their congregation to do evangelism at the workplace, but they themselves do not. And many other aspects of the lifestyle are different between a professional Christian and ordinary Christians.
Thirdly, from vs 16-18 Paul considers the heavenly reward. He was given a commission to preach the gospel. That was his responsibility. But to get a reward, he thinks he must go beyond simply fulfilling his responsibilities. If we are to be rewarded, we must take initiative and go beyond our responsibilities. We must do "extra-credit" homework. Paul saw his "extra-credit" as giving up his personal rights for the sake of ministry. This is what he meant when he said, "What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."

Paul also gave up his right to marry. In 1Cor 7, he explains that marriage can be a distraction and encourages those who want to give themselves fully to ministry may find it best to stay single.

vs 19-23 Paul "makes himself a slave" by giving up his personal rights for the sake of other's salvation.

vs 24-27 The "prize" Paul refers to is not the forgiveness of sins. That we call "justification", and it is a free gift as he explains extensively in Romans. The prize refers to the judgment mentioned in 1Cor 3. Christian's sins will be burned up and what remains, they will be rewarded for. Thus in view of the potential rewards, believers are motivated to work diligently to obtain them. And such an attitude is inevitable for those who have the quality of faith that saves. To not work for such rewards may be indicative that such a person does not have saving faith. For faith without any outworkings of faith, is no faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Heb 11:6

It is true that our works of faith are not themselves the object of our faith. The object of our faith is the atoning work of Christ, whereby we have been forgiven of sin. But one cannot truly believe in Jesus as Savior unless we also accept him as Lord. And if Jesus is accepted as Lord, then such should be evident in a person's life. Thus everyone who truly believes will in fact receive the crown.

2Ti 4:7,8

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Jas 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

And thus when Paul says, "so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize", he is concerned, not only with respect to obtaining the prize, but also for his own salvation status. For to be disqualfied would indicate that he didn't have the quality of faith that saves. I find that the most common characteristic this faith mentioned to be "perseverance". That is, "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Mark 13:13 And this is also Paul's emphasis here and in 2Tim 7,8 mentioned above at the end of his life. It is in this light the God says in Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." On the other hand, I'm sure that Paul was confident that he would endure as well along with most other Christians at the time. For he continues in Hebrews 10:39 "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

How do you know whether you have been born of God? The book of 1st John study deals with this extensively. "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." 1John 3:10 God's gift of eternal life is not unconditional. It requires faith. And the faith that He requires is not a trivial thing. It requires a faith which will endure to the end, a faith that is confident in God's promise, a faith that is application-oriented, and a faith that is humble and submissive to God. After exhorting the believers to develop godly character qualities, Peter says this:

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chris"

2Pet 1:10,11

But realize also that such behavior is inevitable for those who have been born of God, and not even burdensome, as it is written:

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

1John 5:3,4

Thus all true believers are overcomers and thus their salvation status is revealed by their behavior - obeying God's commands and loving other Christians. If however you find that this does not describe you, then:

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

2Cor 13:5

And if you do fail, then go back to the cross and this time make your faith real. Get to know the Biblical Jesus by examining the gospels again and accept him as Lord and Savior for real. See if your behavior is consistent with your faith. If not, change it.

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

Rev 21:7,8

The Crown

Php 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Col 2:18 "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,"
2Ti 4:7,8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Jas 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
1Pe 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
Re 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Re 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Jul 29,2015