1st Corinthians, chapters 9 - 11

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Chapter 9 Paul writing (Sosthenes possible scribe)

About apostles in general (as opposed to: the unique 1 to tumultuous Corinth, et al.)

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus Our LORD? Are You not the result of My work in the LORD? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to You! For You are the seal of My apostleship in the LORD. This is My defense to those who sit in judgment on Me. Don't We have the right to food & drink? Don't We have the right to take a believing wife along with Us, as do the other apostles & the LORD's brothers & Cephas (Peter). Or is it only I & Barnabas who must work for a living?

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard & does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock & does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain (Deu 25:4). Is it about oxen that GOD is concerned? Surely HE says this for Us, doesn't HE? Yes, this was written for Us, because when the plowman plows & the thresher threshes, They ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If We have sown spiritual seed among You, is it too much if We reap a material harvest from You? If others have this right of support from You, shouldn't We all the more?

But We did not use this right-- the "we" here is Paul & Barnabas; recall we just saw that they must work for a living. It was said about Paul in Acts 18:3 that He was a tentmaker-- see Acts 18 - 19 Chapter 18 <1>. On the contrary, We put up with anything rather than hinder the Gospel. Don't You know that Those who work in the Temple get Their food from the Temple, & Those who serve at the altar share  in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the LORD has commanded that Those who preach the Gospel should receive Their living from the Gospel. Now Paul & Barnabas did indeed preach the Gospel (as traveling missionaries), but they would have been hindering the Gospel, as the church was just getting started-- & facing much opposition (as opposed to today's bare-tolerance).

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that You will do such things for Me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive Me of this boast (assignment-- not a simple calling). Yet when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to Me if I do not preach the Gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to Me. Recall Barnabas & Saul being set apart by the Holy Spirit in the Church at Antioch (Acts 13:1-3); see Acts 12 & 13 Chapter 12 <1>. What then is My reward I am hoping for? Just this: that in preaching the Gospel I may offer it free of charge, & so not make use of My rights in preaching it.

Though I am free & belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews by birth I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To Those under the Law I became like 1 under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law), so as to win Those under the Law. Recall Paul was born a Roman citizen, circumcised on the 8th day, a Hebrew of Hebrews, Greek-speaking with a logical mind, born in Tarsus of Cilicia of the tribe of Benjamin, raised in Jerusalem, thoroughly trained in the Law, a Pharisee (Acts 22:3,22-29; Phlp 3:5); see Acts 22 & 23 Chapter 22 <1> & <2>; Acts 20 & 21 Chapter 20 1. Locations (3rd pt.) & Phlp 3 & 4 Chapter 3 <1>. To those not having the Law I became like 1 not having the Law (though I am then not free from GOD's Law but am remanining under Christ's Law-- e.g., loving enemies), so as to win those not having the Law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Do You not know that in a race all the runners run, but only 1 gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize-- not as in competition with others, but striving to please God. Everyone who competes [is agonizing (Gr., agonomizomai); see Colo 1 - 4 Chapter 4 2nd set of pts. in <1>] in the game goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but We do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat My body & make it My slave so that after I have focused & preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Chapter 10 Paul writing (Sosthenes possible scribe)

<1>

For I do not want You to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that Our forefathers were all under the cloud & They all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud & in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food & drank the same spiritual drink; for They drank from the spiritual Rock that accompanied Them, & that Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, GOD was not pleased with most of Them; Their bodies were scattered over the desert.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep Us from setting Our hearts on evil things as They did. Do not be idolaters, as some of Them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat & drink & got up to indulge in pagan revelry (Exo 32:6c). We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of Them did-- & in 1 day 23,000 of Them died. We should not test the LORD, as some of Them did-- & were killed by snakes. And do not grumble as some of Them did-- & were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to Them as examples & were written down as warnings for Us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So if You think that You are standing firm, be careful that You don't fall! No temptation has seized You except what is common to mankind. And GOD is faithful; HE will not let You be tempted beyond what You can bear. But when You are tempted, He will also provide a way out that you can opt to claim so that You can stand up under it.

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Therefore, My dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which We give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that We break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is 1 loaf, We, who are many, are 1 body, for We all partake of 1 loaf.

Consider the people of Israel: Do not Those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or even that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to GOD, & I do not want You to participate with demons. You cannot drink the Cup of the LORD & the cup of demons too; You cannot have a part in both the LORD's Table & the table of demons. Are We trying to arouse the LORD's Jealousy? Are We stronger than HE.

<3>

You say, "Everything is permissible"-- but not everything is beneficial. You say, "Everything is permissible"-- but not everything is constructive (a repeat/continuation of 1stCor 6:12; see 1stCor 5 - 8 Chapter 6 <2>). Nobody should seek His own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, The earth is the LORD's, & everything in it (Psa 24:1a).

If some unbeliever invites You to a meal & You want to go, eat whatever is put before You without raising questions of conscience. This is opposite the cautions given (about eating in an idol's temple,or with those you invite) in 1, 1stCor 8:9-13 (see 1stCor 5 - 8 Chapter 8 <1>) & 2, Roma 14:20-21 (see Roma 14 - 16 Chapter 14 <1>). There we have the advice to not eat food: 1, if it was offered to an idol (as it gives false testimony), nor 2, if it is in violation of their beliefs (it aggrevates/judges their already-weak conscience, & prompts them to reject the Gospel). But here we have: But upon having been invited, if anyone says to You, 'This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol,' then do not eat of it, both for the sake of the man who told You it was offered (the receipt of false testimony) & also for his conscience' sake (it makes them feel judged)-- the other man's conscience, I mean, not Yours. For why should My own freedom be inspected & judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I (should I put myself in position to be) denounced because of something I thank GOD for?

So whether You eat or drink or whatever You do, do it all for the Glory of GOD. I.e., keep in mind the testimony & the receipt of the Gospel. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, or Greeks or the Church of GOD-- even as I try to please everybody in every way. This reveals another side to how we should eat: it's clear that we are not to knowingly eat food offered to idols, neither food contrary to others' beliefs; but that, as we saw above, we should eat whatever is set before us (e.g., only veggies) if invited by an unbeliever to a meal. But here we have, try to please everybody in every way-- e.g., when the church hosts a meal, let all types of food be available. For I am not seeking My own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Chapter 11 Paul writing (Sosthenes possible scribe)

<1>

Follow My example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise You for remembering Me in everything & for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to You. Now I want You to realize that in general the head of every man is Christ, & the head of every woman is man, & the head of Christ is GOD. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered by a hat, e.g., dishonors his head. For his head is Christ. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-- for though her head is man, the proclamation is that it is Christ; it is just as though her head was shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; & if (but since) it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved off, she should cover her head. BTW, both are hardly a carry-over from the O.T.:

• Covering the head was only mentioned 3x in the O.T. (& never again in the N.T.); 2x it was mentioned in conjunction with grief (2ndSa 15:30; Est 6:12); 1x the seers had their heads covered in the prophetic book of Isaiah (Isa 29:10);
• Shaving the head was only mentioned 6x in the O.T. (& also never again in the N.T.); 2x it was mentioned in conjunction with the Nazarite vow, & 1x with worship (Jdg 16:17,22; Job 1:20)-- though often it was the custom to shave at the end of the vow; then again 3x in the prophetic books (Isa 15:2; Jer 48:37; Eze 7:18).

More "generally speaking": A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the Image & Glory of GOD; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, & because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

Now as to Christians: In the LORD, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. For everything comes from GOD. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to GOD with Her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach You that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to Him, but if a woman has long hair, it is for her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, We have no other practice-- nor do the Churches of GOD. I.e., the only difference is that for men & women the signs of authority are natural-- the woman does not need to cover her head any further than the long hair. It suffices that man has short hair & woman long hair.

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In the following directives I have no praise for You, for Your meetings intent with the LORD's Supper do more harm than good. In the 1st place, I hear that when You come together as a church, there are divisions among You, & to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among You to show which of You have GOD's Approval. When You come together, it is not the LORD's Supper You eat, as there should be no attitudes, for as You eat, each of You goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. 1 remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't You have homes to eat & drink in? Or do You despise the Church of GOD & humiliate Those who have nothing? What shall I say to You? Shall I praise You for this? Certainly not!

For I received from the LORD what I also passed on to You; The LORD Jesus, in order to set the pattern of how it should be, on the same night, but before He was betrayed, took bread during the "Last Supper", & when He had given thanks, He broke it & said, This is My body, which is for You; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, This is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever You drink it, in remembrance of Me (Matt 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; see PerMtMkLk22 D.25.). For whenever You eat this bread & drink this cup, however the environ, You proclaim the LORD's death until He comes again.

Therefore, whoever eats the Bread or drinks the Cup of the LORD in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Body & Blood of the LORD-- not just against those they have attitudes toward. A man ought to examine himself before He eats of the bread & drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats & drinks without recognizing us the Body of the LORD eats & drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among You are weak & sick, & a # of You have fallen asleep. But if We judged ourselves, We would not come under judgment. When We are judged by the LORD, We are being disciplined so that We will not be condemned with the world.

So then, My brothers, when You come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, He should eat at home, so that when You meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.