TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9
1 Corinthians 9:1-2
Acts 9:1-22

“Am I not an apostle?”

A GENUINE APOSTLE

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul expanded on the concept of Christian liberty. As an Apostle, he often had to forego his rights for the advancement of the gospel of Christ. He expected the Corinthian Christians to do the same so that Christ might be glorified and the saints edified.

Paul began this section by first asserting the genuineness of his Apostleship. He was commissioned by Christ to plant churches and preach where Christ was not named (Rom 15:20). He was afforded apostolic authority and thus he together with the other Apostles were infallible in their preaching (1 Thess 2:13) and writing (2 Tim 3:16).

Paul asked the Corinthians four rhetorical questions in 1 Corinthians 9:1, each demanding the answer “Yes!”

1. “Am I not an apostle?” (Yes, I am.)
2. “Am I not free?” i.e. “Do I not have Christian liberty?” (Yes, I have.)
3. “Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?” (Yes, I have.)
4. “Are not ye my work in the Lord?” (Yes, you are.)

Two qualifications stand out that attest to the genuineness of Paul’s Apostleship. First, Paul had personally seen the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22). Second, the existence of the Corinthian church itself was the “seal” (1 Cor 9:2) of his Apostleship. A seal or signet is often placed on letters, certificates or items to signify their genuineness. Thus, Paul was saying that his work in the Corinthian church itself was proof of his Apostleship, for the church was a result of Paul’s ministry in the Lord.

Today, there are men who claim to be Apostles, but none have met the above criteria. Neither do their lives and teaching match up to the Apostle Paul’s. Do not be deceived!

THOUGHT: I need discernment in this age of apostasy.
PRAYER: Father, help me to be true in my calling just like Paul was in his.