“Say I these things as a man? Or saith not the law the same also?”
The full verse · 1 Corinthians 9:8 · KJV
Say these a ? the the ?
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Paul: the apostle who founded the church at Corinth, defending his right to be supported (1 Corinthians 9:3-7)
The Scene
After three everyday examples of workers who live from their work (1 Corinthians 9:7), Paul turns to a higher authority.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionExamples from daily life are persuasive, but someone could still call them mere human opinion. Paul heads off that objection. Gill explains "as a man" as "After the manner of men, reasoning from things common among men, and obvious to everyone's observation." Barnes puts the first question this way: "Do I speak this on my own authority, or without the sanction of God?" The second question points to the law of Moses, which Barnes notes carried special weight with the Jewish believers at Corinth. Together they press the Corinthians to see that Paul's claim rests on God's word, not only on custom.
The Response
What Scripture recordsPaul answers at once: "For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn" (1 Corinthians 9:9). The law does say the same. He then adds a further witness: "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14). His point was never merely human.
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe church at Corinth had both Jewish and Gentile members. Paul first preached in the synagogue there and "persuaded the Jews and the Greeks," and Crispus, "the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house" (Acts 18:4, 8). For believers raised on the law of Moses, Scripture carried authority above any argument from common practice. Gill says Paul's point was clear from reason, but it "might be supported by divine authority" too.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThese questions show how Paul builds his case. He starts with what anyone can see (1 Corinthians 9:7), moves to what God has written (1 Corinthians 9:9-10), and ends with what the Lord has commanded (1 Corinthians 9:14). Common sense and Scripture agree, but Scripture is the ground Paul stands on.
They also show that Paul treated the law of Moses as still speaking to the church. A command about oxen in the law of Moses had something to say about how the Corinthians should treat those who served them: "For our sakes, no doubt, this is written" (1 Corinthians 9:10). Barnes says the principle settled in that law was that "the laborer should have a support."
Look Closer
What does Paul mean by asking, "Say I these things as a man?"
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, which of my strong opinions rest only on what seems sensible to me, and what does Your word actually say about them?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- When you hold a strong view, how do you tell whether it comes from Scripture or from what simply seems reasonable to you?
- Tell about a time when reading Scripture confirmed or corrected something you thought was just common sense.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Good reasons are helpful, but Paul didn't stop there. He asked whether God's word said the same. You can do that too. When you form a conviction, especially one that shapes how you treat others, take it to Scripture and see whether it stands.
This doesn't mean common sense is worthless. Paul used everyday examples first (1 Corinthians 9:7). But he let Scripture have the final word.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?”
“Doth God take care for oxen?”
“If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”
“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?”