CONTEXT IS KEY in Understanding Scriptures Part 4 # CAST AWAY?

CONTEXT IS KEY in Understanding Scriptures Part 4 # CAST AWAY?

The Bible is a book set apart to show us Christ. We must learn to read the Bible and get the meaning from the Bible . We do not read our meaning into the Bible . It is a book older than everyone on earth now. We cannot afford to innovate into the scriptures.

Context is surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence. It is the  text in which a word or passage appears and which helps ascertain its meaning. The context of a text includes the surrounding words /paragraphs of the text. It can also include the background information or events that result in the text.  Context also include the history and general knowledge of the writer and receiver of a text.  So far we have seen that Context is of paramount importance in understanding the Scriptures. You can’t use a verse out of context to say what you like. You take the meaning of the verse instead of interpreting your meaning into it.

Now let’s  look at 1 Corinthians 9 and see what the Paul means by castaway in verse 27 of the chapter.

1 Corinthians 9

 27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

WHAT DOES PAUL Mean by SO THAT I MYSELF MAY NOT BE A CAST AWAY? First and foremost, we must know that the word castaway is one word. It is not ‘cast' and ‘ away’. It is not used as a verb in verse 27. It is from the Greek word adokimos. It means DISQUALIFIED, not approved . The intelligent question to ask is DISQUALIFIED from what ? Notice it didn’t say cast away into hell or cast away from heaven . That means that it is a reward/goal that Paul doesn’t want to be disqualified from .

 So DISQUALIFIED from what ? Let’s see the context of 1 Corinthians 9.

Many times when this verse is read, people get various implications from it . This is because we often times read meanings into castaway without looking at the context of the text. I have heard people say things like ‘ EVEN PAUL WAS NOT SURE OF MAKING HEAVEN” Funny enough this verse is used to say such which has nothing to do with the second coming of Jesus . Remember there are no contradictions in the Bible. We only have contradictions when we don’t carefully read  the context of what is said. If this verse is suggesting that Paul is NOT CERTAIN of being with Jesus , it will contradict many other verses in the epistles even written by Paul. Even the verse before verse 27, Paul said I run with certainty. In Philippians 3:20 written by Paul, we see that our citizenship is in heaven . No man tries to make a place he is a citizen of . It is only in ignorance of your inheritance you do such. In Christ, we are never told to make heaven . We are only told to live our life knowing that we will surely put on immortality when Jesus returns. For more on this , I strongly recommend you READ the SURETY OF HEAVEN PART ONE, PART TWO AND PART THREE before you proceed.

The life we have received in Christ is a life of surety . We are called to live with full assurance of what we have received in Christ.  Read carefully these words of Jesus .

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 4:25)

  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.( John 6: 37-40)

One thing we see in all these words is certainty and the unconditional nature of what we have in Christ. Notice it is ETERNAL LIFE not temporary life that you can be cast away from . It was Jesus who said I WILL BY NO MEANS CAST OUT. No condition attached. Keep all these in your memory  while we study 1 Corinthians 9. Remember you cannot have a meaning in your mind then look for a Bible verse to support it.

1 Corinthians 9

 1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

 2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

 3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

 4  Have we not power to eat and to drink?

 5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?note

 6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

 7  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?

 8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

 9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

 10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

 11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

 12  If others be partakers of thispower over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

 13  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?  

 14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

 15  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

 16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

 17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospelis committed unto me.

 18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

 19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

 20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

 23  And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

 24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

 25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

 26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

 27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We are looking at the last verse of the chapter . We have to start with the beginning of the chapter to see the entire context of the discourse.

From verse 1 of this chapter, Paul begins to explain his apostleship  and how that even the Corinthian church is part of his proof of apostleship . As an apostle , Paul argues that he has the right to eat, drink , marry just like other apostles .  He pointed out that only him and Barnabas didn’t forbear working(Verse 6). Paul argues further even referencing the law that they ought to eat from the work of ministry. This is contrary to some people’s opinion but the Bible is our final authority. The body of Christ is designed in such a way that the shepherds should be fed from the people they ministers spiritual things to. If the pastor  decides to do other things to sustain himself, it is an exception and it should be because he doesn’t want to be a burden to the flock. See verse 11&12 of 1 Corinthians 9.

 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Paul made a very vital point in verse 12 that though the people ought to be giving to them as a matter of necessity, they do not use the power lest it hinders the gospel of Christ. Verse 13 and 14 further buttress this. ‘ 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? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Remember we are still  looking at what Paul means by “ so that I myself will not be a cast away’. So Paul is careful not to be disqualified  from a reward . Verse 17 and 18 introduces what the reward is .

Let’s look at verse 16 to 18 again more attentively .

1Corinthians 9

16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

 17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

 18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

We see here that Paul’s reward is related to preaching . Obviously the disqualification will also be in preaching . He tells us in verse 16 that he is under an obligation to preache the gospel. He doesn’t  preach for gain or what people will give to him though it is expected that people give physical things to him as he is giving them spiritual things. Pay attention to verse 18. Paul tells us what THE REWARD he doesn’t want to be disqualified from is.

The REWARD IS THAT I MAY PREACH THE GOSPEL WITHOUT CHARGE. In other words, Paul’s commitment which should be our commitment as ministers of the gospel is to preach the gospel without attaching a cost or price to it. We do not preach for ‘ What is in it for us'. Many persons today preach the gospel with charge . Examples ; 91 dollars for Psalm 91 blessings , breakthrough seeds for righteousness , generational seeds for breaking generational  curses and attaching any money or price for any thing we have in Christ . In fact, Peter rebuked  Simon the sorcerer for wanting to buy the gift of the Spirit in Acts 8. Now that we know what the reward is,  we cannot assign our own meaning to verse 27.

From verse 19 Paul explains how he is able to adapt with different persons for the sake of preaching the gospel to them . This is part of the discipline that comes with preaching . He then gives an illustration of those that run in a race in other to win a perishable crown. He comparing himself with them said in verse 26 ‘ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air’ . NOTICE , he runs with CERTAINTY. Even while he disciplines himself, he is certain of it. The next verse explains the discipline of a minister in other not to be disqualified (castaway) from the reward of preaching the gospel without charge .

Now read verse 27 again ,

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

First note that you are not your body . So you have bring your body under subjection so you will not be disqualified. So castaway in verse 27 has nothing to do with going to heaven or hell . But, it has to do with PREACHING the gospel without charge . Many preachers today are castaway. If you fall victim of it, repent(change your mind ) and just like Paul, MAKE UP your mind to bring your body and desires  under subjection so you will be able to preach the gospel without assigning a cost . Kindly confess THESE from your heart .

I am preacher of the gospel of Jesus

I preach the gospel always without charge

I am given to the right discipline of my body to preach the gospel as I ought to

I am not bias with the truth of the gospel

I stay with the context of the scriptures always

Glory to God

Stay blessed .

So far we have seen that Context is very important in Bible interpretation.

Don’t forget NO CONTRADICTIONS in the Bible . It is a book centered on revealing the truth in Christ. In the subsequent parts of this series, we will look at other seemingly contradictory verses in the epistles .

JOIN US in this campaign

PLEASE SHARE.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

 KINDLY ASK YOUR QUESTIONS Using the comment button below .

BY EMEKE MODESTY OBIAZIKWOR

www.emekemodesty.com

GOSPEL AND MIRACLE CAMPAIGN (GAMC) : Bringing people to the knowledge of Christ via the Gospel of Christ with the supernatural by Campaigning for the gospel of Jesus and setting people on fire to do the same .

Email: gospelandmiraclecampaign@gmail.com