Barnabas & Paul Have to Work for Their Food & Others Don't |
1 Corinthians 9:1-27 Paul's 1st Epistle to the Corinthians [in Smaller Chunks] |
[Aren't] I an apostle? [Aren't] I free? Haven't I seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Aren't you my work, [through sharing my faith] in the Lord? If [I'm] not an apostle to others, [undoubtedly,] I'm [an apostle] to you. For you are the seal, [a.k.a. symbol,] of [my] apostleship in the Lord. [My] answer to [those, who] examine, [a.k.a. question,] me is this, [Don't] we have [the] power to eat & drink? [2 Thessalonians 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for [nothing;] but [worked] with [heavy labor] night & day, [so] that we might not be chargeable, [a.k.a. a responsibility,] to any of you.] |
[Don't] we have [the] power, [a.k.a. right,] to lead [around] a sister, [or] a wife [with us just] [like] other apostles, & [like] the [Lord's brothers,] & Cephas, [a.k.a. Simon Peter.] Or [is it] only Barnabas & I, [who] haven't [the] [right] to forbear, [a.k.a. refrain from,] working? |
Who [goes] to [war] anytime at his own [expense?] Who [plants] a vineyard, & [doesn't eat] of [its] fruit? Or who [feeds] a flock, & [doesn't] [drink] of the milk [from] the flock? [Do] I say these things as a man? Or [doesn't] the Law [say] the same also? |
For it is written in the Law of Moses, You [shall] not muzzle the mouth of the ox that [tramples down] the corn. [Doesn't] God take care [of] [the] oxen? Or [does] [God say] it [totally] for our sakes? No doubt, this is written for our sakes, That he, [who plows,] should plow in hope. And that he, [who threshes,] [threshes] in hope, & should be [a] [participant] of his hope. |
If we have sown, [a.k.a. dispersed,] spiritual things to you, is it a [big] thing if we shall reap [from] your carnal, [a.k.a. worldly,] things? If others [are participants] of this power over you, [why] aren't we [instead?] [However,] we haven't used this power, but [allow] all things, lest we should hinder, [a.k.a. interfere,] [with sharing] the Gospel [about] Christ. |
Don't you know that [those, who] minister about [the] holy things, [also] live [off] the things [offered in] the temple? And [those, who] wait at the altar, [also] are [participants] with [the food of] the altar? [Leviticus 2:1-3 And when any will offer a meat/grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil upon it, & put frankincense [on it.] And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, & he shall take [from it,] his [memorial] handful: of the flour, the oil, & all the frankincense [of it.] And the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar to be an offering made [with] fire, of a sweet [aroma] to the Lord. And the [rest] of the meat offering shall be Aaron's & his sons. It is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire.] |
Even so, the Lord [has] ordained, [a.k.a. appointed,] that [those, who] preach the Gospel, should live [from] [what is offered while sharing their faith about Christ through] the Gospel. [Matthew 10:7-10 And remain in the same house, eating & drinking such things as they give. For the laborer is worthy of his hire, [a.k.a. wages.] [Don't] go from house to house. And into [whatever] city you enter, & they receive, [a.k.a. welcome or accept,] you, eat such things as they set before you. And heal the sick, [who] are [there.] And say to them, The Kingdom of God [has] come [near] to you.] |
But I [haven't] used [any] of these things. Neither have I written these things, so that [this] should be done [for] me. For it [would] [be] better for me to die, than any man should make my [glorifying] [the Lord,] void, [a.k.a. without value.] For I preach the Gospel, though I have nothing to glory, [a.k.a. boast,] of. |
For [it was] [necessary] [that it] [was put] upon me [to preach.] Woe is me, if I [don't] preach the Gospel! [Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said to [Ananias,] Go [on] your way. For [Saul, a.k.a. Paul,] is a chosen vessel to Me, to [carry] My Name before the: Gentiles, kings, & the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel. For I will [declare] [to] him, [what] great things he must suffer for My Name's sake.] |
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward. But if [I do it] against my will, a dispensation, [a.k.a. immunity,] is committed, [a.k.a. pledged,] to me [from] the Gospel. Then, what is my reward? [Truly,] that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ, [freely given,] without charge, [so] that I [don't] abuse my power, [through] the Gospel. [1 Corinthians 10:33 As I please all men in all things, not even seeking [my] own profit, [a.k.a. benefit,] but the [benefit] of many, [so] that they may be saved.] |
For though [I'm] free from all men, [still] I've made myself [a] servant to all, [so] that I might gain [even] more [believers in Jesus Christ.] And I became [like] a Jew to the Jews, [so] that I might gain the Jews. |
[I became like I'm] under the Law [of Moses,] [so] that, I might gain [those, who] are under the Law. To [those, who] are without [the] Law, [I became like I'm] without [the] Law, (not being without [the] Law to God, but [being] under the Law to Christ,) [so] that, I might gain [those, who] are without [the] Law [of Moses.] |
I became [like] [I'm] weak, to the weak, [so] that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, [so] that I might by [every] means save some. And I do this for the Gospel's sake, [so] that I might be [a] [participant of the Gospel] with you. |
Don't] you know that [those, who] run in a race, all run, but [only] one [receives] the prize? So run, [so] that you may obtain [the prize, which is Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.] [2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, & I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. [From now on,] there is a crown of righteousness is [stored] up for me, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me [on] that day. And not only to me, but also to all [those] at [Christ's appearance, who] love [Him.] |
And every man, [who strives] for mastery, is temperate, [a.k.a. moderate,] in all things. Now, they [race] to obtain a crown [that is] corruptible, [a.k.a. corrodes.] But we [race for] an incorruptible [crown.] |
Therefore, I run [this way,] not [with uncertainty,] so I [don't] fight [like someone punching] the air. But I keep my body, & bring it under subjection, [a.k.a. under control,] lest when I have preached to others, by any means, I should be a castaway, [a.k.a. an outcast,] myself. [Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled for us, who [don't follow] after the flesh, but [follow] [according] to the [Holy] Spirit.] |