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"My defence..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:3

PUTTING UP A STRONG DEFENCE

Did Paul have a right to put up a defence of his apostolic ministry? Absolutely! The Lord Jesus Christ had to defend Himself time and again from His enemies. These instances were carefully recorded in the Gospels (John 5; Matthew 22 etc).

“My defence to those who examine me is this:
Do we have no right to eat and drink?
Do we have no right to take along a believing wife,
as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord,
and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have
no right to refrain from working?”
1 Corinthians 9:3-6

1. The word “right”

a) This is the same word translated as “liberty” (1 Corinthians 8:9).

b) A synonym used in this context was “freedom” (1 Corinthians 9:1).

2. Attendant issues

a) A few other things were associated with the issue of “apostleship”.

b) These issues were: –

i) Support for a livelihood (“eat and drink”).

ii) Support for a believing wife who wished to travel with her husband.

3. The support accorded the following:

a) The other apostles.

b) The brothers of the Lord. (Perhaps James, and Jude… these were well-known and respected leaders of the early New Testament Church.)

c) Cephas (Peter) was named in particular.

d) They were well-supported!

e) Their wives travelled with them in their missionary journeys.

4. Barnabas and Paul

a) They had to continue to work with their hands.

b) They needed to support themselves while serving the Lord faithfully.

c) Why were they not given the same support though they were apostles (Acts 14:14).

d) This reflected the problem that Barnabas and Paul faced with reference to the Corinthian Church.

e) The Church at Corinth had given respect and support to everyone else, except Barnabas and Paul.