Today, we began our study of 1 Corinthians 9, with Paul defending his apostleship to this immature, carnal church. Chapters 8 – 10, Paul deals with the issue meat offered to idols. In chapter 8 he addresses the mature, and in chapter 9 he transitions to dealing with the immature in chapter 10. Remember, Paul is building the case for spiritual maturity and the actions is takes to win the lost and strengthen the brethren. He begins moving his message toward being more mature with personal accountability to Christ. These chapters are a teachable moment, dealing with all types of believers.
1 Corinthians 15:8-9: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul declares his apostleship, by his Damascus Road experience in Acts 9, recounting his experience in these verses. As we saw in Galatians 2, Paul was declared to be the Apostle (sent one) to the Uncircumcision (Gentiles), and Peter, James, and John were declared to be the Apostles to the Circumcision (the Jews). They each had a calling, and agreed to encourage and support one another in their calling. Please read Acts 15 to get the whole picture of the Council of Jerusalem. It fully turned the course of Christianity in the first century from Jew to Gentile.
Galatians 2:7-10: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
We will continue in our study of chapter 9 next Sunday!