STUDYING THE BOOK OF 1 CORINTHIANS
IN SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Lesson 13 - The Rights of an Apostle - 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
Read the following verses in the New International Version or a translation of your choice. Then discuss the
questions that follow. Questions should be studied by each individual before your discussion group meets.
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1CO 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you
not the result of my work in the Lord? [2] Even though I may not be an apostle to others,
surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1CO 9:3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. [4] Don't we have
the right to food and drink? [5] Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with
us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas*? [6] Or is it only I and
Barnabas who must work for a living?
1CO 9:7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and
does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? [8] Do I
say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? [9]
For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the
grain."* Is it about oxen that God is concerned? [10] Surely he says this for us, doesn't
he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher
threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. [11] If we have sown
spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? [12] If
others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than
hinder the gospel of Christ. [13] Don't you know that those who work in the temple get
their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on
the altar? [14] In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the
gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
1CO 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the
hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive
me of this boast. [16] Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled
to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! [17] If I preach voluntarily, I have a
reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. [18] 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.
1CO 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to
everyone, to win as many as possible. [20] To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the
Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not
under the law), so as to win those under the law. [21] To those not having the law I
became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under
Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, to
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win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might
save some. [23] I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the
prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. [25] Everyone who competes in the games
goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a
crown that will last forever. [26] Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do
not fight like a man beating the air. [27] No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that
after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Lesson 13 - The Rights of an Apostle - 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
149. What proofs did Paul use to show that he was a genuine apostle? (9:1-2)
150. What rights did Paul waive to be an apostle? (9:3-6, 12)
151. What case could Paul make for asserting his rights as an apostle? (9:7-11, 13-14)
152. What are the rights of those who preach the gospel? (9:12)
153. Why was Paul willing to set aside his rights? (9:12)
154. Why didn’t Paul take full advantage of his rights? (9:12-18)
155. What has the Lord commanded for those who preach the gospel? (9:14)
156. How did Paul preach? Why? (9:16-17)
157. What motivated Paul to preach as he did? (9:16-17)
158. What reward is there in preaching the gospel? (9:18)
159. Why did Paul make himself a slave to everyone? (9:19)
160. To what extent did Paul go to save people? (9:20-23)
161. Why is it necessary to live with purpose and discipline? (9:25-27)
162. Why did Paul lead a disciplined life? (9:27)
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