1 Corinthians 9 is about Paul’s own rights which accompany his calling and ministry as an apostle appointed by Jesus Christ. In contrast to the elitists in Corinth who were his critics, Paul was willing to subordinate rights if it was for the well-being of the flock.

Those who claimed special knowledge and attendant rights to dine on food offered to idols in idol temples looked with distain at ordinary believers who would not do so. They also, apparently, looked at Paul as an inferior apostle because he laid aside legitimate rights.

Most of 1 Corinthians 9 deals with such rights using many rhetorical questions. The verse 5 verses of this chapter have 6 such questions. The answer to these in each case is “yes.” Some think that the Corinthian church challenged Paul about whether he even was an apostle. The evidence I present in this sermon points to the fact that Paul clearly was an apostle as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:1 and elsewhere in the epistle.

The Corinthian error was to make value judgments about spiritual status compared to others. The practice of claiming to be spiritual, powerful, knowledgeable, wise or have other desirable gifts compared to others was harming the body of Christ. Paul was willing to lay aside certain rights he legitimately possessed for the greater good of body of Christ.

He did not want the gospel itself to be tainted in the minds of some due to claiming special rights. This issue of rights came up in chapter 8 and dominates chapter 9. Paul subordinated valid rights which likely caused his critics to see him as defective and weak. Our main application is from Philippians 2 where Jesus laid aside certain divine prerogatives in order to bring salvation to lost sinners.

The application also deals with terminology in Philippians 2 which has been misused to compromise the true doctrine of Christ. We preach the gospel of Jesus Christ who is fully human and fully God. He laid aside divine privileges, not His eternal, non-contingent deity.