1 Corinthians 9:15

a. “But for my part, I have used none of these things:” does Paul mean “none of the privileges” included in the above ἐξουσία ? or “none of the reasons” by which they have been enforced (so Hf [1335], Hn [1336], the former with exclusive ref [1337] to 13 f.)? The parl [1338] sentence of 1 Corinthians 9:12, and the οὕτως γένηται of the next clause, are decisive for the former view. “The authority” in question included a number of rights (1 Corinthians 9:4 ff.), all of which P. has foregone. ἐγὼ emphasises, in preparation for the sequel, and in distinction from the broader statement of 1 Corinthians 9:12, etc., Paul's individual position in the matter; and the pf. κέχρημαι (replacing the historical aor [1339] of 12) affirms a settled position; the refusal has become a rule. From this point to the end of the ch. the Ap. writes in the 1st sing [1340], revealing his inner thoughts respecting the conduct of his own ministry.

[1335] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1336] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[1337] reference.

[1338] parallel.

[1339] aorist tense.

[1340]ing. singular number.

1 Corinthians 9:15 b. “Now I have not written this 4 14) in order that it should be so done (viz., provision made for ‘living of the gospel') in my case.” The epistolary ἔγραψα may refer either to a whole letter now completed (Romans 15:15), or to words just written (Wr [1341], p. 347; cf. 1 Corinthians 5:11). ἐν ἐμοί (the sphere of application), “in the range of my work and responsibility,” not “to me” (dat [1342] of person advantaged, as in 1 Corinthians 9:20 ff.); cf. 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 4:6. On the best-attested reading, καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τὸ καύχημά μου οὐδεὶς κενώσει, the sentence is interrupted at ἤ : “For it is well for me rather to die than” P. breaks off, impatient of the very thought of pecuniary dependence (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:10), and instead of completing the comparison by the words “that any one should make void my boast,” he exclaims vehemently, “My boast no one shall make void!” (so Al [1343], Ed [1344]). μᾶλλον ἢ qualifies the whole clause, not καλὸν alone. This anacoluthon, or aposiopesis, if it has no exact parl [1345] in the N.T., is only an extreme instance of Pauline oratio variata (such as appears, e.g., in Galatians 2:4 f. and again in 1 Corinthians 9:6, and in Romans 5:12-15), where an extended sentence forgets its beginning, throwing itself suddenly into a new shape; this occurred in a smaller way in 1 Corinthians 7:37 above. Strong feeling (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:9 ff., on the same point) is apt to disorder Paul's grammar in this way. He began to say that he would rather die than be dependent on Cor [1346] pay; he ends by saying, absolutely, he will never be so dependent. The T.R. attempts to patch the rent. Other explanations of the older txt. are given: (a) Lachmann puts a stop after καύχ. μου “Better for me to die than my boast; no one shall make it void!” (b) Mr [1347] and Bt [1348] make ἢ disjunctive, despite the μᾶλλον : “Better for me to die or (sc. if I live) no one shall make void my boast!” (c) Ev [1349] and El [1350] read οὐδεὶς κενώσει as equivalent to ἵνα τις κενώσει, supposing ἵνα to be understood and the οὐ to be pleonastic expedients for which there is a precarious grammatical analogy. (d) Lachmann also conjectured ἀποθανεῖν νὴ for ἀποθανεῖν ἤ, Michelsen and Baljon adding the easy insertion of ὃ before οὐδείς : “It is good for me rather to die! Yea, by my glorying (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:31), which no one shall make void.” (e) Hf [1351], Gd [1352], and others, in despair fall back on the T.R.

[1341] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[1342] dative case.

[1343] Alford's Greek Testament.

[1344] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[1345] parallel.

[1346] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[1347] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[1348] J. A. Beet's St. Paul's Epp. to the Corinthians (1882).

[1349] T. S. Evans in Speaker's Commentary.

[1350] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[1351] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1352] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).