The big picture
1 Corinthians 9 opens in verse 1 with “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the…”, and closes in verse 27 with “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I…” Repeated or prominent terms include gospel, power, gain, Lord, Christ. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 271 Corinthians 9:1-7
1–7: Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our…
1 Corinthians 9:1–7 opens with “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in…” and reaches “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 9 develops its own movement around gospel, power, gain, Lord, Christ, with particular weight carried by Lord, power, apostle.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 5 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“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?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Corinthians 9:1-7
King James Version1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1 Corinthians 9:8-14
8–14: Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1 Corinthians 9:8–14 opens with “Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?” and reaches “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 9 develops its own movement around gospel, power, gain, Lord, Christ, with particular weight carried by gospel, hope, altar.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 6 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Corinthians 9:8-14
King James Version8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13Do 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?
14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:15-21
15–21: I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things…
1 Corinthians 9:15–21 opens with “But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so…” and reaches “To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 9 develops its own movement around gospel, power, gain, Lord, Christ, with particular weight carried by gospel, gain, preach.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it…” The line’s distinctive content terms include better, glorying, used. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
“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…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 9:15-21
King James Version15But I have used none of these things: 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.
16For 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!
17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And 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, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1 Corinthians 9:22-27
22–27: To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all…
1 Corinthians 9:22–27 opens with “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that…” and reaches “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 9 develops its own movement around gospel, power, gain, Lord, Christ, with particular weight carried by weak, means, obtain.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means…” The line’s distinctive content terms include weak, became, gain. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Corinthians 9:22-27
King James Version22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 9:1 begins with “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?”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 9:13 forms a natural hinge: “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?”
The final note
1 Corinthians 9:27 leaves the reader with “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words gospel, power, gain, Lord, Christ, preach help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is included in the covenant?
Noah, his descendants and every living creature. Trace the repeated wording in verses 8-17.
Why does verse 6 matter after the flood?
It grounds the protection of every human life in the continuing divine image.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
- doth
- does
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.