ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Corinthians 9

1 Cor. 9:2 seal. Seals in the ancient Near East were used to guarantee the quality and authenticity of a document (such as a letter) or product (such as wine); see note on John 6:27. Paul’s gospel preaching has changed the hearts of the Corinthians. That change shows that his apostleship is genuine. See also 2 Cor. 1:21–22; 3:3.

1 Cor. 9:4–5 right. Paul proclaimed the gospel and established churches. He had the right (see the same word in 8:9) to receive material support from those churches (see Luke 10:7; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 5:17–18). the brothers of the Lord. James (1 Cor. 15:7; see Matt. 13:55; Gal. 1:19), who became the leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; 21:18; Gal. 2:9), and Judas (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3), probably the same person who wrote the Letter of Jude.

1 Cor. 9:6 Barnabas was a Jewish Christian from the priestly tribe of Levi. He was from Cyprus and was an early member of the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:36). He and Paul worked together on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:1–14:28).

1 Cor. 9:7 With three examples from everyday life, Paul observes the obvious principle that those who work hard should benefit from their labor.

1 Cor. 9:12a others. Probably refers to those listed in v. 5. They had traveled through Corinth and received material support from the Corinthians while ministering there.

1 Cor. 9:15 I have made no use. Paul occasionally received support from churches for preaching the gospel (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:14–18), but apparently he never received such support from Christians in the places where he was currently working (2 Cor. 11:7–8). boasting. Paul uses this word to express a rightful sense of joy and fulfillment in what God has done through him (e.g., see Rom. 15:17–19; 2 Cor. 1:14; 10:7–8).

1 Cor. 9:17 Stewardship refers to managing a household. God has entrusted Paul with a responsibility to preach the gospel. He must be faithful, whether he benefits from it materially or not.

1 Cor. 9:18 free of charge. Paul preached the gospel in urban centers where traveling lecturers were common. Some of them used their speaking skills to seek fame and fortune. Paul wants to distinguish himself from such preachers (see 1 Thess. 2:3–5, 9–10). It is recorded elsewhere that Paul engaged in manual labor to set an example of hard work for new Christians (1 Thess. 4:11; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6–9).

1 Cor. 9:20 I became as a Jew. In Christ, God had created a new people without distinction between Jew and Gentile (Acts 15:9; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 10:32). Paul was willing to adopt the Jewish way of life temporarily to gain a hearing among Jews (Acts 16:3; 21:17–26).

1 Cor. 9:21 those outside the law. Outside the Mosaic law, which defined the Jewish way of life. not . . . outside the law of God . . . the law of Christ. Paul seems to distinguish between the Jewish law and something he calls “the commandments of God” (7:19) and “the law of Christ.” This type of law has continuing importance for Christians, whatever their ethnicity. It appears to include Jesus’ ethical teaching as well as the theological structure and moral precepts of the Mosaic law. (See, e.g., Rom. 7:7; 12; 22; 13:8–10; Gal. 5:14; 6:2.)

1 Cor. 9:24–27 This extended athletic metaphor would have been understood in Corinth. The city was the location of the biennial Isthmian games, second in fame only to the Olympic games (see also Phil. 3:12–14; 2 Tim. 4:7–8). The perishable wreath was a crown of leaves given to the winner of a public athletic contest.

1 Cor. 9:27 An athlete goes through rigorous physical training in order to achieve victory. Paul endures physical and emotional hardship to advance the gospel. (See v. 12 and 2 Cor. 6:1–10.) Disqualified in this context means “disqualified from receiving rewards” (see 1 Cor. 9:24–26).