1 Corinthians 9:16

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! THOUGH I (IF I SIMPLY) PREACH ... I HAVE NOTHING TO GLORY OF - for the "necessity" laid on me by Christ's commission (Acts 26:16) to preach (cf. , and Jonah) does away with "glorying." It is only when I preach without charge () that I have cause for "glorying," since there is no necessity laid on me as to this: it is my voluntary act for the Gospel's sake....

16._For if I preach the gospel. _To show how very important it was not to deprive himself of that ground of glorying, he intimates what would have happened, if he had simply discharged his ministry — that he would in this way have done nothing else than what the Lord had enjoined upon him by a strict _necessity _By doing _that_, he says, he would have had no occasion for glorying, as it was not in his power to avoid doing it. (493) It is asked, however, what _glorying _he here refers to, for he glories elsewhere in his _exercising _himself in the office of teaching _with a pure conscience _(Titus 1:3.) I answer, that he speaks of a glorying that he could bring forward in opposition to the false apostles, when they endeavored to find a pretext for reviling, as will appear more fully from what follows. This is a remarkabl

15-23 It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extreme...

Verse 1 Corinthians 9:16. _FOR THOUGH I PREACH THE GOSPEL_] I have cause of glorying that I preach the Gospel free of all charges to you; but I cannot _glory_ in being a preacher of the Gospel, because I am not such either by my own skill or power. I have received both the _office_, and the grace by which I execute the office, from God. I have not only his authority to preach, but that authority _obliges_ me to preach; and if I did not, I should endanger my salvation: _yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel_. As every genuine preacher receives his commission from God alone, it is God alone who can take it away. Wo to that man who runs when God has not sent him; and wo to him who _refuses_ to run, or who _ceases_ to run, when God has sent him....

FOR THOUGH I PREACH THE GOSPEL ... - This, with the two following verses, is a very difficult passage, and has been very variously understood by interpreters. The general scope and purpose of the passage is to show what was the ground of his “glorying,” or of his hope of” reward” in preaching the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 9:15. He had intimated that he had cause of” glorying,” and that that cause was one which he was determined no one should take away. In this passage 1 Corinthians 9:16. He states what that was. He says, it was not simply that he preached; for there was a necessity laid on him, and he could not help it; his call was such, the command was such, that his life would be miserable if he did not do it, But all idea of “glorying,” or of “reward

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

FOR THOUGH I PREACH THE GOSPEL, I HAVE NOTHING TO GLORY OF,.... The sense is not, that if he preached the Gospel in order for a livelihood, and to serve his private advantage, he should have no room for glorying; since, if this was the case, he should be obliged to do it, or perish for want: but his meaning is, that though he preached the Gospel ever so well, or ever so freely, and might glory before men, and against the false teachers, who insulted him in his character and office; yet not before God, from whom he received all his gifts, abilities, and qualifications, to preach the Gospel; all his light and knowledge in it; all his enlargements in meditation, and liberty in expression; all his faithfulness and integrity, courage and intrepidity, in the discharge and performance of his work, were by divine grace and assistance; and his success in it owing to the power and Spirit of God, s...

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...

THE UNCLAIMED PRIVILEGES (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)...