---
title: 1 Corinthians 9:1
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-9-1/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-9-1.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: 1 Corinthians 9:1
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# 1 Corinthians 9:1

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

## JW Usage

JWs recognise Paul as an apostle but use the concept of apostolic authority to argue for a continuing governing body. If the first century had apostles exercising centralised authority, the modern era requires the same — filled by the Governing Body as the "faithful and discreet slave."

## Protestant Usage

Paul grounds his apostleship in two non-transferable credentials: "Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?" Seeing the risen Christ was the defining mark of apostolic authority (Acts 1:21–22; Galatians 1:1). The apostolic office also carried unique signs (2 Corinthians 12:12) and the authority to deliver new revelation (Ephesians 3:5). None of these marks is transmissible to a successor body. Ephesians 2:20 calls the apostles part of the "foundation" — a foundation is poured once and never re-laid. Paul in Acts 20:28–30 commits the next generation of leaders to "God and the word of his undeserved kindness," not to a successor council. The Governing Body neither claims nor possesses any apostolic credential.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Acts 15 — A One-Time Council, Not a Standing Body](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/acts15-one-time-not-template.md) — The Jerusalem meeting never reconvened, never legislated again, never appointed successors [Authority]
- [Foundation Laid Once — Apostles Are Not a Perpetual Office](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/apostles-foundation-eph220.md) — Ephesians 2:20 — A foundation is poured once, and the building stands on it forever [Authority]
- [Paradosis — What Paul Actually Preserved](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/paradosis-traditions-2thess215.md) — 2 Thessalonians 2:15 — 'Hold the traditions... by word or by letter' [Authority]