1 Corinthians 9:14

1 Corinthians 9:14

12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? ^aNevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things ^blest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

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

<< 1 Corinthians 9:13

1 Corinthians 9:15 >>

Even so—The only inference to be drawn from this passage is, not that the Christian ministry is of a sacrificial character as the Jewish priesthood, but simply, that as the latter was supported by the contributions of the people, so should the former. The stipends of the clergy were at first from voluntary offerings at the Lord's Supper. At the love-feast preceding it every believer, according to his ability, offered a gift; and when the expense of the table had been defrayed, the bishop laid aside a portion for himself, the presbyters, and deacons; and with the rest relieved widows, orphans, confessors, and the poor generally [TERTULLIAN, Apology, 39]. The stipend was in proportion to the dignity and merits of the several bishops, presbyters, and deacons [CYPRIAN, c. 4, ep. 6].

preach . . . gospel—plainly marked as the duty of the Christian minister, in contrast to the ministering about sacrifices (Greek) and waiting at the altar of the Jewish priesthood and Levites (I Corinthians 9:13). If the Lord's Supper were a sacrifice (as the Mass is supposed to be), this fourteenth verse would certainly have been worded so, to answer to I Corinthians 9:13. Note the same Lord Christ "ordains" the ordinances in the Old and in the New Testaments (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7).

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Corinthians 9:14:**

Song of Solomon 8:12
1 Corinthians 9:4
2 Corinthians 11:7
Galatians 6:6
1 Timothy 5:17

<< 1 Corinthians 9:13

1 Corinthians 9:15 >>

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