Power to Eat and Drink 1 Corinthians 9:4

Paul the apostle asked four questions of the Corinthian church members: “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not you my work in the Lord?” He told the Corinthians they were his “seal of apostleship”, and he began to question those who “examined him”. In chapter nine and verse four of First Corinthians, Paul continued his question to his “examiners” as he asked about his, “power to eat and drink” where we read:

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

The verse begins, “Have we not power ...” Paul began with the words, “Have we not” which means “Doesn't Paul and his companions hold, own or possess the” “power” which refers to “ability for choice, liberty, leave and permission of doing as one pleases”. Paul rhetorically asked the church members if they thought he had the “ability” to decide upon what he will ask.

The verse continues, “... to eat and to drink?”. Paul added the words, “to eat” or “to consume, take food and devour” “and drink” which means “to imbibe”. Paul wanted to know if the church members at Corinth thought he and his companions had the right to “eat” and “drink” as they thought best.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we understand his desire to know the thinking of those who “examined” him. Certainly he and his companions had the “power” to “eat and drink” as they thought best even if the food and drink was offered to idols, but there were some within the church who were “questioning” the validity of Paul's authority. Though a person has “liberty” in “eating or drinking” certain things, it doesn't mean everyone does. Jesus Christ desires for His church to be “pure and holy”, and we do best when we consider this question, “Is this pleasing to God”? As John the apostle wrote, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11) May all who read take heed and understand.

Next time Paul asked another question of his “examiners”, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.