BEFORE Paul returns to the question of food offered to idols, he spends this chapter in a digression over defence of his authority as an apostle.

It seems plain that 1 Corinthians was not the first communication he had had with Corinth over the problems there. It seems that he had written before, and his letter had not been well received by some, and information had got back to Paul that people were denying his apostleship and his authority as an apostle, and were making false accusations that he was only into the ministry for the money.

Whenever a minister is faithful in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, there will be those in the congregation who will take offence at this teaching. Having not really received the Gospel of salvation, and not really wanting to receive it, Satan is able to mobilise such people to oppose the Gospel. This sort of thing can be traced everywhere the Spirit of God has been active in reviving blessing.

In verses 1 and 2 we can see that this sort of opposition had taken place. Paul is defending his authority as an apostle. He had seen the risen Lord on the Damascus road at his conversion. The Holy Spirit had affirmed his ministry and the proof of this was the Christians in Corinth. Paul appeals to the success of his ministry as proof he was truly an apostle owned by Christ.

Then we can see that one of the criticisms that had been levelled against him was that he was only after the money. He defends the right of Christ's ministers to receive remuneration for their labours from verse 3 to 14. Paul claims the right to receive remuneration just like all the other apostles, and like Peter, and if he had a wife then he had a right to have her with him and for her to be fed too. This was accepted for Peter and so why not for him.

Then from verse 7 Paul expounds the teaching of the Scripture and of Christ that those who give their labour and energy for the feeding of the soul, have a right that their material needs should be met by those who receive the greater spiritual blessings and nourishment that Paul was bringing to the soul.

Paul points out that this principle was embodied in the Old Testament. He quotes Deuteronomy 25: 4 where the rule was that the ox which worked to tread the corn should be allowed to feed off the corn while he worked, and he should not be prevented by a muzzle. Paul asks why he should receive less consideration than an animal. So having sown a spiritual harvest to the soul, Paul had a right to expect that he may receive in return the supply of his temporal needs. Paul even reminds the Corinthians that this is what Christ taught. (Matthew 10: 10)

Then Paul reminds the Corinthians that in actual fact Paul had not asserted this right because he did not want to cause any hindrance to the reception of the Gospel. This is in verses 12b-18.

Then Paul shows how unfounded were the criticisms he had been receiving. Far from demanding money and pay, Paul had gone out of his way to fit in with every one, both Jew and Gentile, so that he did not cause any hindrance to the message he preached being received. Paul tells the Corinthians that he was ready to sacrifice his own needs and rights for the Gospel, so that his message of salvation through Christ may be favourably received.