1 Corinthians 9 Personal Study Guide
December 29, 2019

INTRODUCTION

This inductive Bible study is designed to walk you through a particular passage and help you study it thoroughly. It is divided into five parts or “steps” which will guide you from a larger, broader perspective down to a more narrow, tightened understanding of the text. This guide also contains additional components, such as Going Deeper and Further Study, to help you as you work through the text.

1. DISCOVERING THE PASSAGE
2. IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE
3. FOCUSING ON KEY WORDS
4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE
5. APPLYING THE TEXT

Beginning with the day after your growth group meets, we encourage you to get alone with God and follow the instructions provided in this guide. Each step has specific guidelines followed by questions. We trust if you faithfully use this study to meet with the LORD each day not only will your personal walk with the LORD grow deeper but your growth group experience will be enhanced as well.

We return this week to 1 Corinthians where Paul makes a compelling case for ministers receiving financial support for their work. However, this is not Paul’s point and it would be wrong to make it so. Paul’s point is that, even though he deserves financial support, he is willing, and has in fact, given up that right for the sake of the gospel.

Paul first defends his apostleship (v.1-2), and then makes an argument for receiving apostolic payment (v.3-14). In verse 15 the chapter takes a different tone as Paul decisively declares that he is not availing himself of the right he possesses to receive payment. His only concern is the gospel and preaching it unhindered. Paul prioritizes the gospel above all, including personal gain.

1. DISCOVERING THE PASSAGE

Discovering the Passage seeks to get an overall idea of the meaning of the passage. Think bigpicture. Pray for God to open your eyes to the meaning of Scripture.

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 9 slowly and thoughtfully. What is the primary issue(s) Paul is addressing in this passage? (Keep in mind there could possibly be a variety of answers. That’s okay; record your thoughts and opinions.)

  2. Verse 12 is a summation of part of Paul’s argument. What is Paul’s point in verse 12?

  3. What other key verse (see verses 19-23) sums up Paul’s point? How does this verse connect with Paul’s point in verse 12?

  4. In your own words, summarize Paul’s argument concerning “rights.”

  5. In verses 3-7, Paul makes a list of things he has given up. According to the text does Paul see these things as bad things? Why has he given them up?

2. IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE

Identifying the Structure seeks to gain insight into why the author wrote the way he did. Try to think like the author. Pray for God to give you insight into the writing of the Scriptures.

Questions

  1. The ESV divides Chapter 9 into seven paragraphs. Look at each individually; what is the main point of each?

  2. Read the passage again, counting the rhetorical questions. Why do you think Paul uses so many and how does this help his argument?

  3. What major theme is the link between chapters 8 and 9? (See 8:13.)

  4. In verse 19 Paul provides the governing principle for a Christian surrendering their rights. What is this principle?

  5. In verses 20-22, Paul speaks of three different categories of people he is seeking to win.
    What are they? How are they different?

  6. In verses 24-27 Paul shifts from his personal ministry mindset to the mindset that all believers
    should have. What is Paul communicating about the way that we should live our lives?

3. Focusing on Key Words

Focusing on Key Words seeks to identify and contemplate the use and meaning of specific words or concepts within the text. Pray for God to open your eyes to words and concepts you’ve never seen before or have overlooked.

Going Deeper: Rights

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul uses the term “rights” 6 times (the ESV translates rights as “rightful claim” in v. 12). This links back to 8:9 where Paul warns the Corinthians to not allow their so-called “right” of eating food in an idol’s temple to become a stumbling block to the weak. In Chapter 9, Paul establishes that he and the other apostles have the right to material financial support as apostles in verses 3-14. He uses examples such as soldiers, farmers, and shepherds in verse 7 to make the point that people who work for a living in those professions get to reap the material benefits of their labors. In the same way, those who proclaim the gospel for a living should be able to receive financial support from their labors (v. 11). 1 Timothy 5:18 also establishes this principal of financial support for church leaders.

But the key thing to recognize in this passage is that Paul surrenders his rights of receiving financial support from the Corinthians for the sake of the Gospel. In 9:12 he says, “Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” The apostle surrendered his own rights so that no hindrance would be put in the way of gospel ministry. This is an example all believers are called to follow, that Christians today should also be willing to surrender whatever “rights” they may have, in order not to place an obstacle in the way of reaching the lost with the saving message of the gospel.

Now prayerfully answer the questions below

Questions

  1. How many times is “the gospel” mentioned in Chapter 9? What is the gospel according to 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and why is it mentioned so many times by Paul in this chapter?

  2. Explain Paul’s quotation of Moses in verse 9 regarding “muzzling an ox” in your own words. What is Paul’s point?

  3. According to verse 12, what right did Paul surrender in order to avoid hindering the gospel? What are some rights we should be willing to surrender in order to avoid hindering the gospel in our context?

  4. The only imperative in this text is in verse 24: “Run so that you may obtain it.” What does this mean in context?

  5. From verse 25, what is the “imperishable wreath”?

4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE

Connecting to the Whole seeks to become aware of how key concepts and themes are seen elsewhere in Scripture. This is allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Pray for God to help you see how this passage connects to the rest of the Bible.

Questions

First Paragraph (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)

  1. Receiving a salary or benefit from work is taught throughout Scripture. What observations do you gain from the following Scripture? Consider Proverbs 27:18: 2 Timothy 2:3-4; Romans 15:26-27; & Galatians 6:6.

Second Paragraph (1 Corinthians 9:15-18)
2. What was Paul’s sacrifice to avoid hindering the gospel? Summarize after reflecting on verses 15-18; Acts 20:33-35; & 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

Third Paragraph (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

  1. Read Philippians 2:1-11. How did Christ adapt to our circumstances in order to bring salvation to us?

  2. How do these passages in 1 Corinthians (8:9-13; 10:23-24, 32-33) and Galatians 5:13-15 help to understand the repercussions for not putting the needs of others ahead of personal preferences?

5. APPLYING THE TEXT

Applying the Text seeks to see people changed as the Word of God is brought to bear in the lives of individuals and communities (growth groups). Pray for God to reveal to you where you need to change and have the courage to take action.

Questions

  1. For Paul, the gospel always took priority in his life. How do you (or don’t you) prioritize the gospel in your own life? Family? Growth Group?

  2. What does it look like in your life to be all things to all people?

  3. Do you see your income as a means to preach the gospel, offering it free of charge?

  4. What obstacles do Christians most often present to nonbelievers in Gaston County? Think of your workplace and/or neighborhood.

  5. What is your true motivation for proclaiming the gospel either privately one-on-one, or publicly to an audience? Personal honor? Financial benefit?

Prayer

Use the following prayer prompts to guide you in your prayers as a Growth Group:

For Your Growth Group

Lord, increase our love for one another. Give us the strength to give up some of our own rights in order to serve each other.

For Parkwood

Thank you, Lord, for teaching us the responsibility of supporting those who preach and teach. Thank you, Lord, that you have taught me more about you through faithful men and women at Parkwood. Thank you for those that serve our children and youth. Thank you for the pastoral staff that give up their personal rights to serve us.

For Your Neighbors

Thank you, Lord, for being a sacrifice for our sin and allowing us to proclaim the gospel freely with our neighbors. Help us to endure everything our neighbors say and do so that we may have an opportunity to share the gospel with them.

For The Nations

Lord, we pray for the missionaries we know. Help them to consider the needs of others before themselves. Help them endure patiently the trials of cross cultural life (language learning, different cultures, hostile environments, differing religions). Lord, keep them encouraged as they run the race set before them.