1 Corinthians 9:2

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

If I be not an apostle unto others - If there be other Churches which have been founded by other apostles; yet it is not so with you.

The seal of mine apostleship are ye - Your conversion to Christianity is God's seal to my apostleship. Had not God sent me, I could not have profited your souls.

The σφραγις or seal, was a figure cut in a stone, and that set in a ring, by which letters of credence and authority were stamped. The ancients, particularly the Greeks, excelled in this kind of engraving. The cabinets of the curious give ample proof of this; and the moderns contend in vain to rival the perfection of those ancient masters.

In the Lord - The apostle shows that it was by the grace and influence of God alone that he was an apostle, and that they were converted to Christianity.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

If I be not an apostle unto others - “If I have not given evidence to others of my apostolic mission; of my being sent by the Lord Jesus, yet I have to you. Assuredly you, among whom I have labored so long and so successfully, should not doubt that I am sent from the Lord. You have been well acquainted with me; you have witnessed my endowments, you have seen my success, and you have had abundant evidence that I have been sent on this great work. It is therefore strange in you to doubt my apostolic commission; and it is unkind in you so to construe my declining to accept your contributions and aid for my support, as if I were conscious that I was not entitled to that.”

For the seal of mine apostleship. - Your conversion is the demonstration that I am an apostle. Paul uses strong language. He does not mean to say that their conversion furnished some evidence that he was an apostle; but that it was absolute proof, and unbreakable demonstration, that he was an apostle. A “seal” is that which is affixed to a deed, or other instrument, to make it firm, secure, and indisputable. It is the proof or demonstration of the validity of the conveyance, or of the writing; see the notes at John 3:33; John 6:27. The sense here is, therefore, that the conversion of the Corinthians was a certain demonstration that he was an apostle, and should be so regarded by them, and treated by them. It was such a proof:

(1)Because Paul claimed to be an apostle while among them, and God blessed and owned this claim;

(2)Their conversion could not have been accomplished by man. It was the work of God. It was the evidence then which God gave to Paul and to them, that he was with him, and had sent him.

(3)they knew him, had seen him, heard him, were acquainted with his doctrines and manner of life, and could bear testimony to what he was, and what he taught.

We may remark, that the conversion of sinners is the best evidence to a minister that he is sent of God. The divine blessing on his labors should cheer his heart, and lead him to believe that God has sent and that he approves him. And every minister should so live and labor, should so deny himself, that he may be able to appeal to the people among whom he labors that he is a minister of the Lord Jesus.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-will to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as an example of self-denial, for the good of others. He had a right to marry as well as other apostles, and to claim what was needful for his wife, and his children if he had any, from the churches, without labouring with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do our souls good, should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right, rather than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people's duty to maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but those transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

2. Unto others. That is, others not at Corinth, who had not been converted under Paul’s ministry. These might doubt that Paul had been sent of God to preach the goespel, but surely his brethren at Corinth could not entertain any such doubt. He had worked among them for a long time, and they had had abundant opportunity to become acquainted with him and to see how successful his efforts had been. They had more than sufficient evidence that he had been sent to do a great work for God.

Lord’s supper. Gr. kuriakon deipnon, literally, “a supper pertaining to the Lord,” which may mean a supper consecrated to the Lord or one instituted by Him, or both. The early Christians customarily preceded the Lord’s Supper by what they called a love feast, or agap?. Thus the entire proceeding formed a commemoration of the last Passover feast, at which Christ instituted the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (see Matt. 26:17-21, 26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). The love feast was a meal to which each member made a contribution of food that was enjoyed in common with all the other believers, to demonstrate clearly the fellowship of love in the Christian church, a fellowship that knows no caste or class distinctions, that places on all the same level. This meal, followed by the Lord’s Supper, showed that all shared in the provisions God makes for His people, both material and spiritual, and that there is no partiality manifested toward any. This custom continued in the church to the end of the 4th century, when, on account of the growth of the church and the increased size of the congregations, it was found necessary to separate the love feasts from the Lord’s Supper. See p. 45.

Seal. That is, the certificate of authentication. Paul emphatically declares that the existence of the church members in Corinth, the very ones who were indulging in doubt about his right to be called an apostle, was absolute confirmation of his claim that he was an apostle. Their conversion could not have been brought about by man. It was the work of God. It was evidence that God was with His servant and had indeed sent him.

God uses His servants as a skilled artisan uses his tools. They are the means in His hands for accomplishing His purposes among men. As the carpenter uses various tools in the making of a piece of beautiful furniture, and the finished article is recognized as a product of his hand, so the Lord uses His workers on earth to fashion into trophies of His grace, men and women lost in sin. The carpenter knows his own tools and uses them skillfully; so the Lord knows His servants, and under His leadership they are empowered to win men for the kingdom. This success in winning men for the Lord indicates His acceptance of their service, and establishes their status as His witnesses.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

Lord’s supper. Gr. kuriakon deipnon, literally, “a supper pertaining to the Lord,” which may mean a supper consecrated to the Lord or one instituted by Him, or both. The early Christians customarily preceded the Lord’s Supper by what they called a love feast, or agapÃ„â€œ. Thus the entire proceeding formed a commemoration of the last Passover feast, at which Christ instituted the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (see Matt. 26:17-21, 26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). The love feast was a meal to which each member made a contribution of food that was enjoyed in common with all the other believers, to demonstrate clearly the fellowship of love in the Christian church, a fellowship that knows no caste or class distinctions, that places on all the same level. This meal, followed by the Lord’s Supper, showed that all shared in the provisions God makes for His people, both material and spiritual, and that there is no partiality manifested toward any. This custom continued in the church to the end of the 4th century, when, on account of the growth of the church and the increased size of the congregations, it was found necessary to separate the love feasts from the Lord’s Supper. See p. 45.

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Ellen G. White
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 66

So it is with many among our people who have drifted away from the old landmarks and who have followed their own understanding. What a great relief it would be to such could they quiet their conscience with the belief that my work is not of God. But your unbelief will not change the facts in the case. You are defective in character, in moral and religious experience. Close your eyes to the fact if you will, but this does not make you one particle more perfect. The only remedy is to wash in the blood of the Lamb. 5T 66.1

If you seek to turn aside the counsel of God to suit yourselves, if you lessen the confidence of God's people in the testimonies He has sent them, you are rebelling against God as certainly as were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. You have their history. You know how stubborn they were in their own opinions. They decided that their judgment was better than that of Moses and that Moses was doing great injury to Israel. Those who united with them were so set in their opinions that, notwithstanding the judgments of God in a marked manner destroyed the leaders and the princes, the next morning the survivors came to Moses and said: “Ye have killed the people of the Lord.” We see what fearful deception will come upon the human mind. How hard it is to convince souls that have become imbued with a spirit which is not of God. As Christ's ambassador, I would say to you: Be careful what positions you take. This is God's work, and you must render to Him an account for the manner in which you treat His message. 5T 66.2

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1 Corinthians 9:2