1 Corinthians 9:15 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

1 Corinthians 9:15

13 ^aDo you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the ^btemple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

14 Even so ^athe Lord has commanded ^bthat those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But ^aI have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for ^bit would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^anecessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 For if I do this willingly, ^aI have a reward; but if against my will, ^bI have been entrusted with a stewardship.

18 What is my reward then? That ^awhen I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel¹ of Christ without charge, that I ^bmay not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I am ^afree from all men, ^bI have made myself a servant to all, ^cthat I might win the more;

20 and ^ato the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the¹ law, that I might win those who are under the law;

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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1 Corinthians 9:15

Paul's special gift of continency, which enabled him to abstain from marriage, and his ability to maintain himself without interrupting seriously his ministry, made that expedient to him which is ordinarily inexpedient; namely, that the ministry should not be supported by the people. What to him was a duty, would be the opposite to one, for instance, to whom God had committed a family, without other means of support.

I have used none of these things—none of these "powers" or rights which I might have used (I Corinthians 9:4-6, I Corinthians 9:12).

neither—rather, "Yet I have not written."

so done unto me—literally, "in my case": as is done in the case of a soldier, a planter, a shepherd, a ploughman, and a sacrificing priest (I Corinthians 9:7, I Corinthians 9:10, I Corinthians 9:13).

make my glorying void—deprive me of my privilege of preaching the Gospel without remuneration (II Corinthians 11:7-10). Rather than hinder the progress of the Gospel by giving any pretext for a charge of interested motives (II Corinthians 12:17-18), Paul would "die" of hunger. Compare Abraham's similar disinterestedness (Genesis 14:22-23).

Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Corinthians 9:15:

1 Corinthians 9:21
2 Corinthians 11:7

<< 1 Corinthians 9:14

1 Corinthians 9:16 >>

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