Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:3

"My defence to them that examine me is this." — 1 Corinthians 9:3 (ASV)

Mine answer. Greek, emē apologia, meaning my apology or my defence. This same word occurs in Acts 22:1; Acts 25:16; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 1:7, 17; 2 Timothy 4:16; and 1 Peter 3:15.

Here it means his answer or defence against those who sat in judgment on his claims to be an apostle.

To them that do examine me. This refers to those who inquire of me, or who censure and condemn me as not having any claims to the apostolic office. The word used here (anakrinō) is properly a forensic term and is usually applied to judges in courts—to those who sit in judgment, and investigate and decide in litigated cases brought before them (Luke 23:14; Acts 4:9; Acts 12:19; Acts 24:8).

The apostle here may possibly allude to the arrogance and pride of those who presumed to sit as judges on his qualification for the apostolic office. It is not meant that Paul had given this answer previously, but that this was the defence he had to offer.

Is this. This refers to what follows: the statements made in the subsequent verses. In these statements (1 Corinthians 9:4–6 and following), he seems to have designed to take up their objections to his apostolic claims one by one and to show that they had no force.