Chapter Nine
1 Cor. 9:1. Am I not an Apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?
Having said: if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat, lest anyone consider him boastful and self-praising, he is compelled at last to declare that he abstained even from what was permitted, so as not to cause anyone to stumble. Whereas Christ commanded the preacher of the Gospel to live from the Gospel (Luke 10:7), that is, at the expense of those being taught, I, he says, rather chose to waste away from hunger and take nothing from you, but to work with my own hands and sustain myself by my own labors. For, as it seems, there were among them certain wealthy teachers who enjoyed honor because they taught without charge, and by this they sought to put Paul to shame. Having understood this, he, as I said, did not wish to be fed at the expense of his disciples, although he had the right to do so. Thus, he says, I conduct myself — yet you do not abstain even from food offered to idols. Such is the general thought of this passage, which he unfolds over several verses. However, let us also examine each statement individually. "Am I not an Apostle?" Lest someone say: "You are not permitted to take, and that is why you do not take," he says: How so? Do the other apostles not take? — Yes, — you will say. — What then? Am I not an apostle? That is, just the same as they are. "Am I not free?" That is, no one forbids me from taking. Lest they say again: "The other apostles are greater than you, because they saw the Lord," he says: "Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?" For "last of all He appeared also to me, as to one untimely born" (1 Cor. 15:8). And to be eyewitnesses of Christ was indeed a great privilege; for He Himself said: "Blessed are your eyes, because you see what prophets and kings did not see" (cf. Luke 10:23–24).
1 Cor. 9:1. Are you not my work in the Lord?
If you are free, if you too are an apostle, but have not accomplished any apostolic work: what of it? For Judas too was an apostle, and saw the Lord. Therefore he says: you are my work; meaning, I have fulfilled the ministry of an apostle. But having said something important, he added: "in the Lord," that is, I fulfilled it not by my own power, but by the Lord's.
1 Cor. 9:2. If to others I am not an Apostle, yet to you I am an Apostle.
I do not say that I am a teacher of the whole universe; but am I not a teacher to you at least? Why then did I take nothing from you, from whom I had a special right to take? Through such a concession he further strengthens his argument.
1 Cor. 9:2. For the seal of my apostleship is you in the Lord.
That is, the proof. If anyone wishes to be convinced whether I am truly an apostle, I will point to you. You constitute the seal and confirmation of my apostleship; for I have accomplished among you everything that an apostle must do.
1 Cor. 9:3. This is my defense against those who condemn me.
To those wishing to know whence it is evident that I am an apostle, I will present you in my defense. For having proved that you were taught everything by me, I will strike down those who condemn me.
1 Cor. 9:4. Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
That is, having taken what is needed from the disciples. But we do not use this authority, even though we have it.
1 Cor. 9:5. Or do we not have the right to have as a companion a sister-wife, as do the other Apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
The apostles were followed by wealthy women who provided them with necessities and took upon themselves all the care for this, so that they might occupy themselves solely with preaching. Note that he placed the chief apostle last, as the most important, expressing this thought: why speak of the others? Peter himself does this. And he calls the brothers of the Lord James, the bishop of Jerusalem, Joses, Simon, and Judas (Matt. 13:55), who were called brothers of the Lord because Joseph was betrothed to the Mother of God.
1 Cor. 9:6. Or is it only I and Barnabas who do not have the right not to work?
That is, do we really not have the authority to live without working and to be supported at the expense of our disciples, without laboring? He did not fail to mention Barnabas either, who, as he knew, was also scrupulous in this regard; for he lived by his own labor.
1 Cor. 9:7. What soldier ever serves at his own expense?
For all soldiers receive their sustenance from the public. He fittingly placed the service of a soldier first, for it bears a resemblance to apostolic service because of the dangers connected with it and because of the struggle against spiritual enemies.
1 Cor. 9:7. Who, having planted a vineyard, does not eat of its fruit?
By this example he pointed to the difficulty, the multitude of misfortunes and cares. However, he did not say: does not use all the fruit, but: "does not eat the fruits." Nor did he say: who does not grow rich from the fruit, but: does not "eat." Thus everywhere he persuades to seek what is necessary, and not what is superfluous.
1 Cor. 9:7. Who, tending a flock, does not eat milk from the flock?
He did not say: sells the sheep, or: eats them, or: all the milk, but: "of the milk," showing us by this that a teacher must be content with small compensation and necessary sustenance. By the name "shepherd" he indicates that a teacher must have great care.
1 Cor. 9:8. Do I say these things only according to human reasoning? Does not the law also say the same?
That is, do I confirm this only by human examples, and have no testimony from Scripture? I can prove that this is also pleasing to God; the Law commands the same thing, which is not from men, but from God.