1 AM I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal [ The "sfragiv" or seal, was a figure cut in a stone, and that set in a ring, by which letters of credence and authority were stamped. ] of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, [ So the question at hand here is, why are the apostles entitled to receive substance from the members of the church for their livelihood. Paul as for himself has chosen not to receive substance from the members, he is most lujely a widower. Either way he find employment but what he is saying that not all of the apsotles are the same, some have families and if they are working full time for the Lord who will keep their families alive. ]

4  Have we not power to eat and to drink? [ Or don't you think for a minute that apostles do not get hungry and need to eat. ]

5 Have we not power [ "exousian" meaning authority or right; and authority, not merely derived from their office, but from Him who gave them that office. ] to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, [ As if to say if Peter and Barnabas can have a wife and be apostles , then I too have the same right. ] and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? [ If you are soldier in the army do you go to battle at your own expense? No ] who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? [ Or if you were a farmer are you not entitled to eat of your own produce as well? So are we as apostles the only exception to the rule? ] or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8  Say I these things as a man? [ Is this me thinking out loud? ] or saith not the law the same also? [ So let's forget me here and just go to scripture. ]

9  For it is written [ I scripture, so it then is the law. ] in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. [ Duet 25:4. Or do you not let the Oxen that works the field also eat the corn and grain from the harvest? They need to stay strong while they work the fields right? Why then would we as apostles be any different in having our needs supplied. ] Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; [ With the work that you do are you looking toward the end goal. A farmer does not make the ground ready and not plant the seeds, no the preparation of the ground is making it ready to plant the seeds in hope of a harvest. Otherwise why do it. ] and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? [ Am I not an apostles of the Lord. So if you have taken care of others before me than why can I not be taken cared of like the others before me? ] Nevertheless we have not used this power; [ Or we have not used or misused this power (or this right, one which Paul does not invoke or use it in any way) to get gain or support from the world. We have not done this for gain as we have tried to labor with our own hands as well. He did not even have them pass around the calendar to feed him. ] but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. [ I choose not to ask for your support because if that would cause someone to be upset that I was getting gain for my service, well I simply choose not to so that I am not guilty of offending a single soul for that matter. ]

13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? [ All the officers about the temple, whether priests, Levites, Nethinim, &c., had a right to their support while employed in its service. The priests partook of the sacrifices; the others had their maintenance from tithes, first fruits, and offerings made to the temple; for it was not lawful for them to live on the sacrifices. Hence the apostle makes the distinction between those who minister about holy things and those who wait at the altar. ]

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15  But I have used none of these things: [ Paul takes pride in the fact that he has labored with his own hands for his support. See also Acts 20:34. ] neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. [ Paul is saying that he would rather die from starvation than to cause someone to loose their testimony because he received money for his labors. The true nature of Paul he would rather die than offend in any way. WOW! ]

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! [ Pauls knows his mission, he knows what he is called to do and he expresses the thought that he is not only grateful for that but that is what he glories in doing. Pauls expresses the notion that because of his calling as an Apostle he MUST serve and preach with all of the facilities with which he posesses. All of his heart , might, MInd and strength otherwise he would be considered slothful. ]

17  For if I do this thing willingly, [ some have rendered this as "But if I do it merely because I am obliged to it, I only discharge an office that is committed to me." ] , I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [ Responsibility or stewardship. ] of the gospel is committed unto me.

18  What is my reward then? [ If I am not doing this for the money then why am I doing it? ] Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, [ It is all free. ] that I abuse [ "katacrhsasqai" do not to use to the full purpose. Paul is going out of his way to make sure that he is not practicing priestcrafts. ] not my power in the gospel.

19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. [ While I am under no legal obligation to any man, I act as though I am a slave to all men in my service. ]

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, [ Or I am happy to hold to those old time jewish christian standards if that will help you. The following words are contained in some versions, "mhwn autov upo nomon", not being myself under the law, are added. In otherwords Paul claimed a kinship with them. He preached in their synagogs,quoted their prophets and taught how Jesus Christ fulfill their law of Moses. ] that I might gain them that are under the law; [ Paul took a Nazerite vow in the temple at Jerusalem, as such he was both Jew and Christian, as such under certain circumstances he submitted himself to the law. ] ;

21  To them that are without law, [ To those to whom the law does not apply. For example he did not permit Titus to be circumcised because he was a Greek. Or to you Gentiles who are without the law, well I am happy to be considered a Gentile as well if that will help you come unto Christ. ] , as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, [ I assumed every shape and form consistent with innocency and perfect integrity; giving up my own will, my own way, my own ease, my own pleasure, and my own profit, that I might save the souls of all. ] that I might by all means save some. [ "pantav swsw", or - that I might save all. That's it that is all I want to do is bless people. To be one with the people. ]

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, [ Or I am not doing this for the meny, I am not doing this for power, I am not doing this to be seen of men - no I am doing it for the gospels sake. ] that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, [ Here Paul employs some sports imagery in his letter, he draws on the setting of Corinth itself. Under the entry for Corinth Smith's Bible Dictionary states: This article would be incomplete without some notice of the Posidonium, or sanctuary of Neptune, the scene of the Isthmian games, from which St. Paul borrows some of his most striking imagery in 1 Cor. and other epistles. This sanctuary was a short distance to the N. E. of Corinth, at the narrowest part of the Isthmus, near the harbor of Schaenus (now Kalamaki) on the Saronic gulf. The exact site of the temple is doubtful; but where the foot-races were run (1 Cor. 9:24); to the east are those of the theater, which was probably the scene of pugilistic contests (1 Cor. 9:26); and abundant on the shore are the small green pine trees which gave the fading wreath (1 Cor. 9:25) to the victors in the games.] , but one receiveth the prize? [ Only one will finish first, be first across the finish lime. ] so run, that ye may obtain. [ So if you are going to run, run to win, to cross firts - or give it all that you have. ]

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. [ Again speaking of those who run the race. All those who compete go through a long periods of painful preparations and practise. "Do you wish to gain the prize at the Olympic games?-Consider the requisite preparations and the consequences: you must observe a strict regimen; must live on food which you dislike; you must abstain from all delicacies; must exercise yourself at the necessary and prescribed times both in heat and in cold; you must drink nothing cooling; take no wine as formerly; in a word, you must put yourself under the directions of a pugilist, as you would under those of a physician, and afterwards enter the lists. Here you may get your arm broken, your foot put out of joint, be obliged to swallow mouthfuls of dust, to receive many stripes, and after all be conquered." Thus we find that these suffered much hardships in order to conquer, and yet were uncertain of the victory. "Epictetus" ] Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; [ Remember the champions were given the laurel wreaths and they were placed on the heads of the winners. But those wreaths made of leaves would soon wither and die. ] but we an incorruptible. [ However the glory that comes from God does not wither and die. ]

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; [ "adhlwv", which we translate uncertainly, has other meanings. which include: 1:ignorantly; I do not run like one ignorant of what he is about, or of the laws of the course; I know that there is an eternal life; I know the way that leads to it; and I know and feel the power of it. 2: signifies without observation; the eyes of all the spectators were fixed on those who ran in these races; and to gain the applause of the multitude, they stretched every nerve; the apostle knew that the eyes of all were fixed upon him. A.His false brethren waited for his halting: B.The persecuting Jews and Gentiles longed for his downfall: C.The Church of Christ looked on him with anxiety: And he acted in all things as under the immediate eye of God. ] ; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [ Or just move your limbs like you are trying to run, but only move the air. ] [ To such a combat as this the apostle most manifestly alludes: and in the above description the reader will see the full force and meaning of the words, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air-I have a real and a deadly foe; and as I fight not only for my honour but for my life, I aim every blow well, and do execution with each. ]

27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: [ This is an allusion, not only to boxers, but also to wrestlers in the same games, as we learn from the word upwpiazw, which signifies to hit in the eyes; and doulagwgw, which signifies to trip, and give the antagonist a fall, and then keep him down when he was down, and having obliged him to acknowledge himself conquered, make him a slave. The apostle considers his body as an enemy with which he must contend; he must mortify it by self-denial, abstinence, and severe labour; it must be the slave of his soul, and not the soul the slave of the body, which in all unregenerate men is the case. ] : lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, [ The word khruxav, which we translate having preached, refers to the office of the khrux, or herald, at these games, whose business it was to proclaim the conditions of the games, display the prizes, exhort the combatants, excite the emulation of those who were to contend, declare the terms of each contest, pronounce the name of the victors, and put the crown on their heads. ] I myself should be a castaway. ["adokimov" signifies such a person as the brabeutai, or judges of the games, reject as not having deserved the prize. So Paul himself might be rejected by the great Judge; and to prevent this, he ran, he contended, he denied himself, and brought his body into subjection to his spirit, and had his spirit governed by the Spirit of God. So Paul is suggesting that if he did such he might be rejected of God and loose his salvation. ]