First Corinthians 9:1-27

Remembering that when Paul wrote this letter by revelation to the church of God living in Corinth at that time, he did not divide it up into chapters and verses as we usually have them divided in most texts of the Bible today which interrupts the thought context, therefore we should understand that what he has just written in "chapter 8" continues here in "chapter 9."

I Corinthians 9:1 and 2:

^9:1I am a freeman, am I not? - (yes.) I am an apostle, am I not? - (yes.) I saw² Jesus our Lord, didn't I? - (yes.) You are my work in (the) Lord, aren't you? - (yes.) ^.2If I am not (considered to be) an apostle to other-people, but indeed I am to you for you are the seal of my apostleship in (the) Lord.

Paul's questions are written in such a manner in the Greek word construction that the answers must be "yes."

• I am a freeman, am I not? Yes, you are a freeman (at liberty to do God's will; refer to verse 19 below and I Corinthians 7:22) during your everyday living of life.
• I am an apostle, am I not? Yes, you are an apostle (a person sent-forth by Christ Jesus on a specific assignment by the will of God; refer to I Corinthians 1:1).
• I saw and continue to see Jesus our Lord, don't I? Yes, you have already seen Jesus our Lord (perceived with your eyes and understood the object-of-sight, Jesus our Lord, in your mind's thoughts) and this truth has not changed. Paul writes "our" and thereby he reminds these holy-people that they all had the same Lord/Master who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
• You (emphatically ‘you’) are my work in the Lord, aren't you? Yes, all of us Corinthian holy-people are your work within the Lord – we are the result of your energetic action, your accomplishment or deed done in alignment, harmony and agreement with our Lord Jesus Christ.

If (since it is true that) I am not considered to be an apostle to other-people (in their opinion), but contrary to what others think, indeed I am (presently and actively an apostle) to/for you….

Paul was well-aware that some people did not consider him to be an apostle to/for them at all; however there was no question but that he definitely was an apostle to/for the holy-people in Corinth to whom he is writing this letter. How can this be verified? He tells them: in truth, emphatically you are the seal (the mark of authentication and approval, that-which makes fast, as when using a seal to ensure something is secure, the ratification) of my apostleship - emphatically mine, not anyone else's - in the Lord. These Christians were the authenticity of his mission, office, assigned function of being an apostle within the sphere of action of the Lord - his apostleship being in alignment, harmony and agreement with the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Reference: Acts 9:1-18 and 27, 18:9, 22:1-21, and 26:12-20; I Corinthians 3:6, and 15:8; II Corinthians 3:1-3. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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