1 Corinthians 9:14

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. EVEN SO. The only inference from this passage is, not that the Christian ministry is sacrificial, as the Jewish priesthood, but simply, that as the latter was supported by the people's contributions, so should the former. The stipends of the clergy were at first from 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, (Tertullian, 'Apology,' .) The stipend was in proportion to the dignity and merits of the bishops, presbyters, and deacons (Cyprian, 100: 4:...

1-14 It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-will to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as an example of self-denial, for the good of others. He had a right to marry as well as other apostles, and to claim what was needful for his wife, and his children if he had any, from the churches, without labouring with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do our souls good, should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right, rather than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people's duty to maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but those transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support....

Verse 1 Corinthians 9:14. _EVEN SO HATH THE LORD ORDAINED_] This is evidently a reference to our Lord's ordination, Matthew 10:10: _The workman is worthy of his meat_. And Luke 10:7: _For the labourer is worthy of his hire_. And in both places it is the _preacher_ of the _Gospel_ of whom he is speaking. It was a maxim among the Jews, "that the inhabitants of a town where a wise man had made his abode should support him, because he had forsaken the world and its pleasures to study those things by which he might please God and be useful to men." See an ordinance to this effect in the tract _Shabbath_, fol. 114....

EVEN SO - In the same manner, and for the same reasons. HATH THE LORD ORDAINED - Hath the Lord appointed, commanded, “arranged” that it should be so (διέταξε dietaxe). The word here means that he has made this a law, or has required it. The word “Lord” here doubtless refers to the Lord Jesus, who has sent forth his ministers to labor in the great harvest of the world. THAT THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL - They who are sent forth by him; who devote their lives to this work; who are called and employed by him in this service. This refers, therefore, not only to the apostles, but to all who are duly called to this work, and who are his ambassadors. SHOULD LIVE OF THE GOSPEL - Should be supported and maintained in this work. Paul here probably refers to the appointmen

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1 The rights and the self denial of an apostle. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1 An apostle's right to maintenance. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1 AM I NOT AN APOSTLE I AM I NOT FREE? The order of the best manuscripts is, _Am I not free? am I not an apostle? _St. Paul designed in this chapter to show that he was not only _giving a precept, _but _setting an example, _He told the "strong" Corinthians, who had "knowledge," that they should be ready to abnegate their rights for the good of others, he now wishes to show them that, in a matter which affected his whol

EVEN SO HATH THE LORD ORDAINED,.... That is, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 10:10 it is an order and appointment of his that his ministering servants, who labour in preaching his Gospel, should be sufficiently taken care of, as to a comfortable livelihood; he has not indeed fixed it in the same way as the priests and Levites had theirs under the law; but as the one was just and right, that they should be maintained out of the things belonging to the temple and altar, and live on them, so it is his will and pleasure, THAT THEY WHICH PREACH THE GOSPEL; that continue to do so, that labour, and not loiter in the word and doctrine, who do the work of the ministry fully and faithfully, and not bear the name only of Gospel preachers: should live of the Gospel; not the Gospel itself, which is spiritual, and not corporeal food; but the sense is, that in consideration and beca

6. PAUL'S GRACIOUS EXAMPLE. CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The Apostle's rights. (1 Corinthians 9:1)._ 2. He waives his rights for the Gospel's sake. (1 Corinthians 9:15). 3. The race-course and the crown. (1 Corinthians 9:24). The great principle laid down in the previous chapter to forego one's Christian liberty, the Apostle Paul enforced by his own example. He was an Apostle and had seen the Lord Jesus, from whom he had received his apostleship (Galatians 1:1). From the second verse we learn that some had not recognized him as an Apostle; these must have been false teachers. But

1 CORINTHIANS 9. This chapter is not a digression, and is not primarily concerned with a vindication of Paul's apostolic status and rights. He enforces his plea that the enlightened should not ride roughshod over scruples they despised, by his own refusal to insist on his apostolic rights. He too was free, was an apostle, had received his commission from the risen Lord, his apostleship to the Corinthians was indubitably attested by his work among them. He (? and his colleagues) may accept maintenance, travel with a Christian wife like other apostles and the Lord's brethren. Must he and Barnabas alone be compelled to work for their living? That would be against human precedent, against the Law also, for by its prohibition of muzzling the ox as he treads out the corn on the threshing-floor, God meant that the preachers of the Gospel should be supported in return for their work. If the Cori...

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, I certainly am to you; you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defence to those who are trying to put me on my trial. Do you mean to say that I have not the right to eat and drink at the cost of the Church? Do you mean to say that I have not the right to take a sister about with me as wife, as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas do? Are you going to maintain that it is only I and Barnabas who have not the right to be set free from manual labour? What soldier who goes on a campaign has ever to provide his own rations? Who plants a vineyard and has no right to eat of its fruits? Who shepherds a flock and has not the right to drink of the milk of the flock? Don't think that this is a merely human point of...

EVEN SO, &C. = So did the Lord also ordain. ORDAINED. Greek. _diatasso._ See Acts 7:44. PREACH. App-121....