Title: Freedom of the Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul's Freedom (1 Corinthians 9:16-23)
Paul's Apostolicity Challenged
But in the early community, Paul's apostolicity continued to be challenged. It would have been unavoidable at the time. Think back to the time when those who lived with Jesus were usually alive and active. It was at a time when the 12 disciples including Peter, some relatives including James, the brother of Jesus, and the 500 believers who witnessed the resurrection and ascension of Jesus were still alive. Would it be acceptable for Paul, who had never met Jesus, and even persecuted Christians, to claim to be an apostle of Jesus before them? Of course, even if Paul met the resurrected Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus, and fundamentally shifted the foundation of his faith completely from the law he followed to the gospel, and no matter how clear his devotion to the community after his conversion, that would be enough. His apostleship could not have been guaranteed.
apostolic authority
Paul writes to the church in Corinth at a time when his apostolic authority is seriously undermined. It is clear that his state of mind must have been heightened. Look at chapter 9:1,2. “Are you saying I am not free? Are you saying that I am not an apostle? Have I not seen our Lord Jesus? Are you not the fruits of my work for the Lord? Although I am not an apostle to others, I am an apostle to you. You who believe in the Lord are a sure sign that I am an apostle.”
Proclamation of the gospel without cost
On the other hand, Paul's idea of 'preaching the gospel for free' is not so unrealistic. I don't know how it is in the US, but Europe, especially Germany, seems to be blown away and not trying to go to college or breathe and make money. Even doctors who have been open stay for about 2 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon. This is because no matter how high the income is, most of it goes out as a tax for the common welfare. I do not think that their system is high and low, but I think it is wise and realistic to go to the “free of charge” system, even if it is not possible for human beings to maintain an altruistic life personally.
freedom and slavery
Why did Paul preach the gospel free of charge? You probably already know the answer. Because preaching the gospel is so precious that it cannot be converted into money. Of course, Paul must have known that it would be difficult to live without money. So, in some cases, we received a missionary fee from the Philippian church. Paul wasn't that tight. But to him, money was just a means to live and to spread the gospel, and it was never a price for preaching the gospel.
But this freedom is different from what we normally think of. We usually think of freedom to do what we want. People think that their freedom is extended through money and power. But Paul, on the other hand, thinks that freedom is not doing what you want. It's not about having an authority over people, it's about lowering yourself to their position. Look at verse 19. “I am a free man not bound by anyone, but in order to win as many people as possible, I have become a slave to everyone. Freedom and slavery are diametrically opposed concepts, but united in Paul. Now Paul addresses the matter more specifically. Let's follow it.
freedom beyond the law
In verses 20-22, Paul explains the problem of freedom in the context of that time, which is difficult for us to understand these days. It is a story related to the law. The law given through Moses was the most important criterion for the Israelites to establish themselves as God's people. However, by the Christian community following Jesus Christ, the law has lost its absolute position. This does not mean that the law has become completely meaningless, but that its original meaning has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. After all, the early Christian community was now freed from the obligations of the law. They were no longer bound by legal obligations, but focused solely on their faith in Jesus Christ. However, quite a lot of Christians at that time still kept the law because they were people who practiced the law from birth.
Let's give an example of why this issue caused such a serious conflict at the time. 1 Corinthians 8 describes the meat that was placed before idols. At that time, meat sold in the market was offered to pagan temples, so some Christians rejected it, or some didn't care. From a legal point of view, such meat could not be eaten. But those who thought they were free from the law ate it without hesitation. People with different opinions criticized each other. It is similar to the debate over whether traditional Korean rituals are idolatry. What was Paul's position?
According to Paul, there is nothing wrong with eating meat sold in the market because idols do not exist. That is the Christian freedom. But Paul says it is important not to abuse our freedom for those who are still not free from such problems. “But be careful that your free conduct does not cause the weak of faith to fall” (1 Corinthians 8:9). He then concludes, “If food overthrows my brother, I will never again put meat in my mouth, lest he overthrow him” (v. 13).
In this sense, Paul explains in verses 20-23 that he was not governed by the law, but followed the law in order to preach the gospel to those who follow the law. He also said that he lived without the law in order to preach the gospel to those without the law. This means that only the gospel was the source of strength that guided his life, not whether the law was being followed.
Today, we almost live by our own standard of living. From our family life to our social life, all standards are ourselves. In such a state, everything is at stake in being recognized and treated by people. Is true freedom guaranteed here? Paul didn't even trust himself. He trusted only the gospel of Jesus Christ. True freedom is given to such a person.