1 Corinthians 9:1

“Amos I not an apostle? am I not free? etc.] The Syriac, Ethiopic, and Vulgate Latin versions, put the last clause first; so the Alexandrian copy, and some other copies; and many interpreters are of opinion that it is the best order of the words; the apostle proceeding by a gradation from the less to the greater, having respect either to his freedom in the use of things indifferent, as eating of meats, etc. for though he did not think fit to use his liberty, to the wounding of weak consciences, it did not follow therefore that he was not free, as some might suggest from what he had said in the latter part of the foregoing chapter: or he may have respect to his freedom from the ceremonial law…”

“HE CONFIRMS HIS TEACHING AS TO NOT PUTTING A STUMBLING-BLOCK IN A BROTHER'S WAY (Co1 8:13) BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE IN NOT USING HIS UNDOUBTED RIGHTS AS AN APOSTLE, SO AS TO WIN MEN TO CHRIST. (1Co. 9:1-27) Am I not an apostle? am I not free?--The oldest manuscripts read the order thus, "Am I not free? am I not an apostle?" He alludes to Co1 8:9, "this liberty of yours": If you claim it, I appeal to yourselves as the witnesses, have not I also it? "Am I not free?" If you be so, much more I. For "am I not an apostle?" so that I can claim not only Christian, but also apostolic, liberty. have I not seen Jesus--corporeally, not in a mere vision: compare Co1 15:8, where the fact of the resurrection,…”

“Am I not an apostle? - This was the point to be settled; and it is probable that some at Corinth had denied that he could be an apostle, since it was requisite, in order to that, to have seen the Lord Jesus; and since it was supposed that Paul had not been a witness of his life, doctrines, and death. Am I not free? - Am I not a free man; have I not the liberty which all Christians possess, and especially which all the apostles possess? The “liberty” referred to here is doubtless the privilege or right of abstaining from labor; of enjoying as others did the domestic relations of life; and of a support as a public minister and apostle. Probably some had objected to his claims of apostleship…”

“Am I not free? am I not an apostle? - That is, Have not I the liberty of a common Christian? yea, that of an apostle? He vindicates his apostleship, Co1 9:1-3: his apostolical liberty, Co1 9:4-19. Have I not seen Jesus Christ? - Without this he could not have been one of those first grand witnesses. Are not ye my work in the Lord - A full evidence that God hath sent me? And yet some, it seems, objected to his being an apostle, because he had not asserted his privilege in demanding and receiving such maintenance from the churches as was due to that office. 1 Corinthians 9:2”

“9:1-27 Continuing the argument begun in 8:1 (see study note on 8:1–11:1), Paul cites personal examples of his giving up his own rights for the sake of other people. 9:1-2 These four rhetorical questions each expect a positive answer. The first, following his discussion in 8:1-13, is an assertion of Paul’s freedom from Jewish ritual obligations—though, as he later emphasizes (see 9:19-23), he freely accommodates himself to the practices of Jews in his desire to win them to Christ. The other three rhetorical questions are assertions of Paul’s apostolic authority, which was apparently being questioned by some in Corinth. • For those who might be skeptical, the reality of Paul’s apostolic…”

“I not an: Co1 9:2, Co1 9:3, Co1 1:1, Co1 15:8, Co1 15:9; Act 9:15, Act 13:2, Act 14:4, Act 22:14, Act 22:15, Act 16:17, Act 16:18; Rom 1:1, Rom 1:5; Rom 11:13; Co2 11:5, Co2 12:11, Co2 12:12; Gal 1:1, Gal 1:15-17, Gal 2:7, Gal 2:8; Ti1 2:7; Ti2 1:11; Tit 1:1-3 am I not free: Co1 9:19; Gal 5:1 have: Co1 15:8; Act 9:3, Act 9:5, Act 9:17, Act 18:9, Act 22:6-8, Act 22:14-21, Act 23:11, Act 26:16-18 are: Co1 3:6, Co1 4:14, Co1 4:15; Act 18:8-11; Co2 6:1 1 Corinthians 9:2”