1 Corinthians 9

“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.

“If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,” Naming Mine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Have we not power to eat and to drink?” 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.

“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and…” 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.

“Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?” 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.

“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who…” 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.

“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.

“Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in…” 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.

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

“If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer…” 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.

“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the…” 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.

“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I…” 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 though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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…” Naming Jews and Jew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I…” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gospel’s, partaker, sake. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 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.

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown…” The line’s distinctive content terms include corruptible, crown, incorruptible. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include body, castaway, keep. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.