1 Corinthians 9-11

Paul tells the Corinthians that even though he could expect them to provide monetary support for his ministry, as it was ordained by God that priests and ministers be supported from the gifts given, he refused to do so.  He served Christ without personal agendas, and did whatever was necessary to win some to the Faith, and avoided every possibility of being accused of serving for selfish gain.

He directs the Corinthians to look at the things recorded in the Old Testament, and what happened to Israel in the wilderness.  All that was placed there was written for our benefit, and for our learning, with everything pointing in various ways towards Christ in the future.  The Corinthians were surrounded by pagans and idol worship, and that same problem had brought down countless numbers of Israelites in their history.  Paul instructed them to stay away from all forms of idolatry, as there is no value in mixing with worldly pagan practices.

Paul teaches that there are different roles, and different ways that men and women worship God, and it is not appropriate for us to destroy the distinctions that God has created between the sexes.  He also admonished the Corinthians for treating the Lord’s Table (Communion) with no respect, as they were treating it like a meal, rather than eating at home.  The Corinthians were not only failing to obey the words of Jesus regarding the remembrance of His sacrifice, but they were completely disrespecting the practice, and in the process the Lord Himself.