9:1
While the argument in the previous chapter dealt with the specific issue of food offered to idols, it was the heart condition that Paul was primarily concerned with. Paul is not merely giving instructions, he now demonstrates how these heart issues work out in his own life. Some see this chapter as a defence of his apostleship, others as demonstrating the heart issues. I think the latter is undoubtedly the primary purpose, but I don’t think the defence can be entirely ruled out. In 2 Corinthians the attack on Paul’s apostleship is very much to the fore. That is not the case in 1 Corinthians, but there do seem to be some murmerings about Paul.
Paul is free, that is a key consequence of the gospel (Gal 5:1), and he definitely was an apostle. He had met the Lord Jesus on the Damascus road. Moreover the Corinthians were the result of Paul’s work in the Lord.
9:2
Paul had founded the church in Corinth. There were other churches that were founded by someone else, but the Lord had used Paul to establish the church in Corinth. The Corinthians knew that. They were the proof, the seal, of his apostleship. This part does read as a mild defence or reminder of his apostleship.
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