Introduction

In 1 Corinthians 8 & 9, the apostle Paul writes to his brethren about freedom and liberties as well as bondage and
servitude.  He answers questions that have been weighing on the hearts and minds of the Corinthians and shows them,
by examples from his own life, how to balance the two ends of the spectrum that are liberty and bondage.

Paul addresses Christian liberties in general in chapter 8 by using the specific problem of eating meat offered in sacrifice
to idols.  He concludes that while we have liberties, we must be willing to give them up when they threaten to offend a
brother or sister in Christ.  He moves into chapter 9 and continues the theme of things given up.  He points out that as
an apostle he has every right to accept financial support from the church at Corinth, but he has foregone such support so
that he might become a “servant to all.”  We will see that sometimes “giving up” certain things is essential to ensure the
well being of our brethren and the church.

Further in chapter 9, Paul speaks of his multi-faceted approach in taking the gospel to an abundance of people from
various walks of life.  Paul, while staying within the limits of the gospel he loves and preaches, does what he can to be
more familiar to, and act more like those to whom he wishes to evangelize.  “Getting in” in the door is important to Paul,
and to do this, he has to “become all things to all people” in order to “gain the more.”

And finally Paul ends chapter 9 in familiar territory by comparing our Christian life as a race being run.  He admonishes
us to “run in such a way that you may obtain it” and therefore might receive an “imperishable crown.”  But he stresses
that just as the athletes, we must have discipline and self-control lest we find ourselves “disqualified.”  Giving all in the
race we are running is as important now as it was when Paul wrote these inspired words, although his race has long been
run, we must still contend until that time when God brings us to the finish line.

I believe a study of this section of Paul’s words to the Corinthians will not only challenge us and perhaps the way we view
evangelism, but that it will also exhort, edify, and encourage us all to get in the race and give it our all!


Lesson

Read Chapter 8:4-6

 Paul is most likely addressing questions he has previously received from the Corinthians.

 Paul points out that an idol is nothing.  In his day and age people worshipped everything from the sun, moon, stars,
mountains, trees, rain, etc. to emotions like love and happiness, to physical genre like gods and goddesses of such things
as harvests and fertility.  To Paul and to the “knowledgeable” brothers and sisters among the Corinthians, none of them
meant a thing, for they realize that there is but one God.

 The knowledge that there is one God should have been taught in the church at Corinth, and evidently it was to an
extent, since many of the brethren did possess this knowledge.  This fact is taught from the old testament teachings of
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 “4" Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD [is] one! 5 "You shall love the LORD your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 " And these words which I command you today shall
be in your heart.” It is reiterated by Jesus as recorded by Mark, “29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the
commandments [is:] 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 'And you shall love the LORD your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This [is] the first commandment.”
(Mark 12:29,30) and now Paul reaffirms this knowledge with them.

 In verses 5,6 Paul states that even if there were gods to represent these idols, that they as Christians still serve but
one God.  Paul points out that God is the creator and that we exist for him.  Surely no idols would be touted as the creator
of all things.  He also points out that the one God is the father of the one Lord Jesus, also a claim not to be made to the
credit of any idol  Even for all this, there are some among the Corinthian Christians who do not possess this knowledge…

Read Verses 7,8  

 Some “weak” Christians still view eating from the tables of idols as communing with the gods they supposedly
represent.  For them eating this meat would defile them.  Literally it would be a sin for them to do such a thing!  
(Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not
from faith is sin.)  Some of the Corinthians were too weak yet in their Christian faith to understand that eating this
meat did not constitute idol worship.

 Paul goes on with some encouragement to the weak in verse 8 by pointing out that food can neither cleanse us or
condemn us in God’s eyes.  Let’s look at the words of Jesus in Matthew 15, where he teaches 11 "Not what goes into the
mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."… 18 "But those things which proceed out of
the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 "These are [the things] which defile a man, but to eat with
unwashed hands does not defile a man." (Matthew 15:11,18-20)

 Paul is breaking into a wider point about liberties in general, by pointing out that it is not the meat at all that defiles a
person.


Read Verses 9-12

 Paul makes it clear that the act of eating the questionable fare is indeed a liberty.  Thayer’s Lexicon (p225, #1849,
usage 1) defines liberty as “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; leave or permission.”  So the question is not
the actual act of eating meat offered to idols (although some of the “knowledgeable” at Corinth may have liked for Paul
to stop at this point)

 There is a twofold sin taking place in this matter, as Paul now points out.  Paul warns the “knowledgeable” not to go
flaunting their liberties before those with weak consciences, for the weak may become emboldened and sit down at the
idols table too.  By doing so he defiles himself, for he has some lingering doubts about idol worship.  No doubt the weak
brother has sinned, but even more the “knowledgeable” have sinned by leading their brethren into sin!

 Paul drives the point home and no doubt stings many readers of his letter by pointing out that Christ died for the weak
brethren also and now because they refused to let go of this liberty they have caused these brethren to perish.  How
shameful that Christ gave up his life for us and some are not willing to give up some small liberty for our brethren’s
benefit.

Read Verse 13

 Paul demonstrates what the attitude of the stronger brethren should be towards the weaker by stating, in essence, that
he would become a life-long vegetarian if it would keep a brother from stumbling.  Now of course Paul isn’t advocating
ignorance of God’s word, he is simply illustrating a point.  Weaker brethren must be taken under the wing of the
stronger and the stronger ought to do everything to see that they do not stumble until such a time as they themselves
are ready for “strong meat.”

 We must be willing to give up our liberties from time to time if it helps a brother or sister.  Once they are stronger in
their faith and more knowledgeable in the word of God, then we can practice these liberties once more.

 Let us move on with these words from Paul to the Roman church.  “1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the
scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please [his] neighbor for [his] good, leading to
edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You
fell on Me." (Romans 15:1-3)


Read Chapter 9:1-18

 Paul was evidently challenged about his very apostleship by some at Corinth and in part because he did not receive
financial support from them as the other apostles did.  Paul makes a very thorough argument that he indeed has every
right and all authority to be supported by them, but he has chosen not to, which is also his right.  He has chosen as we
will see in verse 19, to become a servant to all so that he might gain the more.  Paul chose not to accept the money of the
Corinthians so that he can be a servant to all, not just to the Corinthians, he has chosen to keep himself “free from all
men” in the hopes that he might gain the more.  

 Paul has most definitely suffered hardships by denying himself this liberty.  Listen to his words from earlier in this
same epistle.  “11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed,
we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.” (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)

 How much are we willing to give up in order to serve God?  Are we willing to give up the comfort of our living rooms to
knock on someone’s door?  Are we willing to give up amicable relationships in an attempt to see our friends, neighbors,
and family members saved?  Are we willing to give up worldly possessions if they hinder us from doing God’s will?

 Let us strive to live by Paul’s thoughts on the matter “7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss
for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7,8)

Read Verses 19-23

 We have already discussed verse 19 in part, Paul now expands on the idea of being a “servant to all.”

 Paul now discusses five different groups of people to whom he has made himself a servant and ends by simply stating
that he does it for the gospel’s sake.

 Becoming as a Jew.  Paul is himself a Jew in speaking of nationality.  Many in the Jewish nation were not “under the
law” so to speak, yet still kept with many Jewish customs.  (sort of like some “Christians” today)  So while evangelizing
to these, he kept from doing or saying things or practicing things that would turn them away from hearing his teachings.  
For example, let’s read Acts 16:1-3 “1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there,
named Timothy, [the] son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father [was] Greek. 2 He was well spoken of
by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took [him] and
circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.”  Paul did this
not because it was necessary but simply for the Jews’ sake.

 Becoming as under the law.  Paul of course, was once under the law himself, a “Pharisee of the Pharisees (Acts 23:6).”  
But since his experience on the road to Damascus, and his subsequent visit with Ananias which led to his baptism (Acts 9:
1-19), Paul has been a Christian, spiritually speaking.  Paul of course doesn’t follow the law in order to reach these, but
again he does all he can to fit in so that the gospel can be preached.

 Becoming as without law.  Paul is not speaking of criminals but about those who are neither under the law of Moses or
under the law of Christ.  In other words gentiles.  Again, he isn’t advocating forsaking the commandments of God while
in the company of Gentiles, he simply becomes as gentile-like as possible so that he might gain some to Christ.

 Becoming as weak.  We have studied the “weak” earlier in this lesson, these were those who may have been enticed to
sin because of the liberties enjoyed by stronger members.  Paul has already told us to give up a liberty if it will keep a
brother from stumbling.

 Becoming as all men.  Paul finishes the list by simply stating that he will do this with any type of person in an attempt
to teach them the gospel.

 Why does he go through all of this trouble?  For the gospel’s sake, and so that he can partake of the blessings
contained therein.  How much are willing to do for the gospel’s sake?  Getting in among these different groups of people
was important to Paul and he was willing to go through quite a bit of effort to accomplish this.  Today we should make an
effort to reach as many people as possible.  

 We should get in among all races (Acts 10:34,35 “34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that
God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”)

 We should get in among all age groups. (1 Timothy 4:12 . “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the
believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”)

 We should use all mediums available to reach these groups. Jesus simply said to “Go” when he delivered the great
commission (Matthew 28:19).  We should “Go” by any means available to us, whether it be by newspaper articles, the
internet, radio broadcasts, T.V. programs, etc. as well as preaching “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).

Let’s conclude with these words of Paul.

Read Verses 24-27

 Paul speaks of a physical foot race and the athletes who train to compete in it and compares it to a Christian’s spiritual
race.  Paul and the Corinthians had probably all seen such physical races at the triennial Isthmian games.  I understand
that these games were held near Corinth and were conducted something like the Olympics with competitor’s in many
events and from many countries.  The victors in these contests would receive a crown made of ivy or other leaves.  Paul
notes that the athletes in these events are “temperate in all things.”  Certainly while training for these games, the
athletes would not eat or drink or do anything that would harm their bodies.  Paul states that he also (and by extension,
we should do likewise) brings his body into subjection in order to run his race without being disqualified.   Let us run to
obtain an imperishable crown, not an earthly crown that will decay.

Conclusion

 Paul ran his race well.  It is my prayer for me and for all men to be able to make the statement that Paul makes in 2
Timothy 4:7 “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  “Finally,” He continues in
verse 8, “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that
Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

 And how sweet it will be to hear the Lord answer “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a
few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

Questions? Comments? justinmurdock@thegospelfortoday.com