Reflection on 1Cor.9:1-16.
Let us pray,
God help us to experience your liberation through your words. Strengthen us to be the agents of your Kingdom. Amen


The above read passage is a discussion on Paul’s apostolic rights and authority. This is because his conduct and his renunciation of apostolic rights had been misinterpreted and used as an argument against him. In Verses 1-14 he argues that he is a real apostle and therefore has every right to receive financial support from Corinthians. Then in verses 15-23 he explains that he has renounced these legitimate rights “ for the sake of the Gospel”. He served God by offering the gospel free of charge and identified with lower status members of the community.
One of the Biblical scholars has explained that within Roman cultural setting there was an ongoing debate about the appropriate means of economic support of a philosopher. Four basic models were advocated;
· Philosopher could charge fee for his teaching-Usually that ends in greed and malpractices.
· Philosopher could be supported by a wealthy patron- A kind of sponsored programme as many of the Christian missions and programmes today.
· Beg on the streets.
· Work at a trade in order to support himself.
But Paul opted the fourth one .Thus by choosing not to make full use of his rights for the gospel. In principle, Paul has the right
· to eat what he wants
· to be accompanied by a wife like other apostles
· to be supported financially by the churches that he has founded
He renounced these rights and the apostolic exousia . Why? Because he does not want to put an obstacle in the way of gospel. Paul talks about his freedom to renounce the privileges of an Apostle. I would like to highlight two points from this passage.

Firstly, Paul talks about responsibilities than privileges.

Paul is more interested in the Gospel proclamation than availing his apostolic rights and powers. Look, his priority-he is enthusiastic in the extension of God’s Kingdom never bothered about his materialistic . One day an Activist said to me, “You Christians are a nebulous community. You people , always talks about privileges never talk about responsibilities. It is true to some extent because in this poor country one of the richest institutions will be the Church. Still church talks about its minority rights only to safeguard personal interests by forgetting our responsibilities towards our nation and towards our own church members.We are called to be a responsible community than a community which always talks about privileges.

Secondly, Christian Freedom also includes freedom in renouncing some of the privileges.
Here Paul asserts that he has the every right to claim financial support and other benefits from the Corinthian Church. But for the sake of the Gospel he renounced that benefits. Today, we are in a world of accumulation in the name of religion and spirituality. Do we have the courage to renounce certain privileges. I know one Primary school teacher who never take leave unnecessarily and she never claim any benefit for that. I know one Bishop who transferred all his personal savings(lakhs and lakhs of rupees) to the Various church projects which supports the marginalized during his transfer from one diocese to another. I know one high govt. official who never use his office facilities for his private affairs. Do we have this courage to renounce certain privileges.

Let me conclude with a testimony about one of our Achen. His name is Rev. C P Wilson. He done his Mth in Missiology here few year’s back. Today he is no more in this world. He passed away few months back. That time he was serving one of the biggest parishes in America, Philadelpha for last six months. With his body nearly 25 people came to Kerala from America to say farewell to their Vicar. During the funeral service one of the church members witnessed his exemplary life. He said, Our Vicar never accepted any kind of personal gifts from us other than his salary. Whenever we give extra money he used that for the benefit of the poor. Before his death he donated his one month salary to the parish for home for homeless project of the Marthoma Church. When I heard this testimony I thanked God for giving us such a wonderful co- worker.
Dear friends We are called to do the responsibilities than talking about our privileges.
We need the courage to denounce certain privileges for the sake of kingdom of God.
Paul says, Neverthless, we have not made use of this right…