michaelvpardo
Well-Known Member
Every translation says the same thing, you just have to pay attention to what you read.Not sure what Bible you're reading. MY Bible has Paul saying he "keeps his body under" and brings it "into submission" lest after he preaches the Gospel, he winds up a castaway bound for hell.
"So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:14
(The Lord's command)
Paul's justification for ignoring the Lord's command follows immediately afterward.
" 15But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. 16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. 17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 1 Corinthians 9:15-17
We accept his excuse because he's an Apostle and wrote the better part of the Epistles, but he very plainly ignored the Lord's instructions.
But let me ask you, what does this mean?
"Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
What "letter" is Paul referring to and why does it kill?