Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Corinthians Chapter 9
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 9:1-27
9:1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?9:2If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
9:3My defence to them that examine me is this. 9:4Have we no right to eat and to drink? 9:5Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 9:6Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? 9:7What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
9:8Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same? 9:9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, 9:10or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking. 9:11If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? 9:12If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more?
Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 9:13Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? 9:14Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.
9:15But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void. 9:16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. 9:17For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. 9:18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.
9:19For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 9:20And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 9:21to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law. 9:22To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 9:23And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.
9:24Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 9:25And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 9:26I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 9:27but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
April 10, 1921: I Cor. 9:24-27
What is the "race" that every man must run? The race that every man must run is that journey from sense consciousness to spiritual consciousness; through this process the corruptible flesh puts on incorruption.
What is the reward that awaits him who runs this race successfully? He is crowned with eternal life, come the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, light, gentleness, and unlimited abundance.
Explain: “Every man that striveth in the game exerciseth self-control.” To exercise self-control on the physical plane requires balance, steadiness, poise. To exercise self-control over appetite, requires mastery over sense consciousness. To exercise spiritual self-control requires mastery and dominion not only over the physical and the sense planes of consciousness, but also control over every thought, word and act. This can be attained only through a conscious union with the Spirit of God within man, which is Christ.
May 29, 1938: I Cor. 9:24-27
“They that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize.” How does this statement apply to the subject of this lesson? To excel in a race one puts forth all one's powers, first preparing oneself by careful training, then enlisting all one's faculties in the final effort. To win control of one's appetites one must likewise use all one's faculties and prepare oneself by careful training in temperance.
What attitude of mind is best while acquiring control of the appetites? Quiet confidence and strength, with praise and thanksgiving, is an affirmative attitude that goes far toward giving self control. “I therefore so run, as not uncertainly.”
August 6, 1944: I Cor. 9:24-27
What prize is gained by disciplining the mind and the sense nature and obeying the law of the Spirit of life? The prize of character, and it is within the reach of all who will try for it faithfully.
Is it possible to abstain from every form of evil and yet do little good meanwhile? Merely to abstain from evil would be a negative practice that would have little effect on the life. Complete abstinence from evil in thought and act is possible; however, only by filling the mind with constructive thoughts and ideas and acting on them.
Is buffeting the body desirable? Not in a literal sense. Denying the body the right or power to rule the life is a form of buffeting that is desirable and that is still practiced. The body is the servant of the I AM, not its master.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-16-2013
