In the previous chapter, Paul ends by saying he would voluntarily set aside freedoms and privileges granted by the gospel message in order to promote that message. This chapter expands on the idea.
Paul was not a slave under human law, but an acknowledged religious leader. He was one of the select few who had actually been with Jesus and had seen Him after His resurrection. This was a high privilege, indeed. Should anyone doubt that Christ called him as an apostle, the Corinthians could not do so. The mere existence of a church in a morally corrupt place like Corinth was quite the testimony of his calling.
So, when churches welcome the surviving members of the Twelve and Jesus’ younger brothers as the Christian equivalent of royalty, rolling out the red carpet and sparing no expense in hosting them, would the Corinthians deny Paul a simple meal? Would they give him a hard time if he brought along a Christian wife when he came to visit, the way others did? For doing precisely the same work, would Paul and Barnabas be required to pay their own way?
Paul cites ancient traditions that everyone understood. Common troops could not soldier if they had to pay their own way. Agricultural workers always got a share of the food they produced; it was the law. Besides, without that share, they wouldn’t be very diligent. Then Paul points out how some parts of Mosaic Law still applied in terms of the underlying principles. It’s not that God cared so much about oxen that He demanded they be unmuzzled when treading grain, but it demonstrates His priorities, His divine moral character. On the basis of the law about not muzzling an ox, we justly deduce that those who minister the gospel get paid for their ministry.
God Himself said that spiritual work is productive for the community, too. It was that way under Moses when priests shared in the offerings they presented to the Lord on behalf of others. Those Christian royalty were not involved in planting the gospel in Corinth, and it was fine that they be supported on their travels. Still, Paul was not angling for the church to start paying him anything.
Apparently some were suggesting that Paul was the same as some religious hucksters, trying to make people feel like they owed him something, or that he bragged about his accomplishments. Were that the case, there’d be more to boast of if he had volunteered for this ministry. However, he denied serving voluntarily; he admitted that Jesus Himself had coerced Paul into the gospel ministry. Paul had always felt wholly inadequate for this work, but someone far above him had entrusted Paul with this unspeakable treasure. That privilege was more than enough reward for Paul.
Thus, Paul accommodated all kinds of weirdness and weakness from every sort of people. They put all kinds of claims on him that he knew were not his burdens to bear, but he did so voluntarily so he could be in a position to share the gospel with them, to demonstrate the character of his Lord.
Corinth hosted the Isthmian Games every two years. The city had a strong athletic heritage. Like athletes, the believers should train the way Paul did, subjecting himself to unnecessary burdens to overcome his moral weaknesses. That wilting piece of greenery the winning athletes wore couldn’t compare to the eternal glory of the gospel. You must enslave your flesh to the Spirit in order to join the victors in Eternity.
