Studies in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians INDUCTIVE LESSON NINE 1 Corinthians 9 Service Before Self During the first century there were a number of itinerant or traveling Greek and Roman philosophers and teachers along with missionaries from the church. Most supported themselves by receiving payment or gifts from their audience or by living with a wealthy benefactor within the community. While receiving such payment was proper, Paul was not supported by the local church but by other congregations (much like our missionaries today) and through his own labor as a tentmaker. Supporting himself in this manner meant that Paul could not be accused of being a prophet for hire and allowed him freedom to act or say what the Spirit or conscience dictated without offending his financial supporters. In the last chapter we saw that Paul advised the Corinthians not to exercise their rights and become a stumbling block to anyone. By applying this advice to himself as he refused to accept financial support from the church, Paul prevented anyone from complaining, the pastor only wants my money. As Paul shifts away from the issue of his support, his passion for preaching the gospel becomes apparent. His athletic metaphor is well chosen you can see him pursuing the presentation of the gospel with a single-mindedness of purpose. A number of years ago a sports psychologist studied the differences in attitude between recreational and world-class runners. He found that world-class athletes had a singular resolve that pushed all other activities to the bottom of their agendas as they focused solely on attaining a world record or an Olympic medal. It is God who empowers us, but we must make the decision to pursue and persist. How do we become world-class Christians? We become a world-class Christian by the pursuit of God and holiness with the single-mindedness of an athlete in pursuit of a gold medal. The writer of Hebrews urges us to run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:1b, 2 NKJV). Run the race of faith to finish and run the race to win. Perhaps one of the greatest moments in Olympic history came in the marathon in Mexico City in 1968. John Stephen Ahkwari was one of the pre-race favorites but tangled legs with another runner and fell heavily on the roadway only two miles into the 26-mile race. Although bandaged and bloody, Ahkwari refused to drop out and limped the remaining 24 miles to the finish line in the Olympic stadium, finishing more than an hour behind the winner. When asked by reporters why he did not simply drop out of the race, Ahkwari responded, My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race, they sent me 5,000 miles to finish one. We have been called to leave the starting line and run the race of faith with focus, endurance, and persistence that will allow us to finish well. Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom in understanding it, and then read through the entire passage two or three times. 1
Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. 1 Corinthians 9:1 27 1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law 2
toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (NKJV) Observation 1) My Observations: In the left column write down observations you make directly from the text. Inductive tips (things to look for): a) What are the promises? b) What are the commands? c) What are the sources of conflict? d) What are the cause/effect relationships? e) What are the repeated words and ideas? g) What do we know about who is speaking and who is receiving the message? h) What comparisons and contrasts can you identify and what do they illustrate? i) Do you have unanswered questions on part of the passage? (Share them with your group.) 2) Digging Deeper: In the right column write down any additional observations you can add from other sources such as: a) other scriptures that apply (cross references) b) dictionaries for specific words (English or Greek dictionary) c) Bible dictionaries for historical information d) commentaries. See the Tool Box at the end of the study for suggested sources. 1 Corinthians 9:1 18 (Rights Relinquished) My Observations Digging Deeper 1 Corinthians 9:19 23 (All Things to All Men) 3
1 Corinthians 9:24 27 (Striving for Victory) Interpretation Webster tells us that interpret means to explain the meaning or make understandable. What is the spiritual truth or lesson that God is trying to teach in this passage? Don t isolate the passage but read into it and read out of it. Look for commands, imperatives, promises, or warnings. What is God saying to those people at that time? You will share what God is saying to you in the next section. State the spiritual truth or lesson in a single sentence. Application This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you in your time with Him. It is through applying the Word that God changes lives. Application does not happen by osmosis but by intent. God enlightens us with His Word, we apply what we ve learned with our wills, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for... Teaching: What did I learn? Reproof: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall short? Correction: What will I do about it? Training in righteousness: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life? 1 Corinthians 9:1 18: Interpretation: 4
Application: 1 Corinthians 9:19 23: Interpretation: Application: 1 Corinthians 9:24 27: Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did last night, you would tell them you went to a Bible Study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 5
1 Corinthians 9:24 Key Words / Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Apostle (1 Corinthians 9:1): Right (1 Corinthians 9:3): Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose one of the versions lower in order on this list of translations. The translations listed at the top are the most accurate or literal while the ones towards the bottom are more readable. Word for Word Translations NASB New American Standard Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new- American-Bible-NASB/ AMP-Amplified Bible http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/amplified-bible-mp/ ESV- English Standard Version http://www.esvstudybible.org/ KJV King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/king-james-version-kjv- Bible/ NKJV New King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new-king-james- Version-NKJV-Bible/ NIV New International Version http://wwwbiblica.com/niv/ Thought for Thought Translations NLT New Living Translation http://newlivingtranslation.com/ The Message http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/message-msg-bible/ Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com 6
Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates s The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words 4) The two websites listed above Step 3: Commentaries. Do not use in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Listed by author: John MacArthur, H.A. Ironsides, J. Vernon McGee, F.F. Bruce, Charles Hodge, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications), Craig Blomberg (NIV Application Commentary), Alan Redpath Step 4: Further Study. If you found this study truly engaging or convicting and want to read further on the issues covered in this chapter the following book would be an excellent resource. The author, Jerry Bridges, actually based this book upon our memory verse for the week (1 Corinthians 9:24). The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. Navpress, Colorado Springs, CO (1996) 2011 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org Message Notes: Message Notes: 7
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