1 Corinthians 9:15-23

§ 29. PAUL'S RENOUNCEMENT OF RIGHT FOR THE GOSPEL'S SAKE. The Ap. has been insisting all this time on the right of Christ's ministers to material support from those they serve, in order that for his own part he may explicitly renounce it. This renunciation is his “boast,” and his “reward”; of his office he cannot boast, nor seek reward for it, since it was imposed upon him (1 Corinthians 9:15-18). In this abnegation P. finds his freedom, which he uses to make himself impartially the slave of all; untrammelled by any particular ties, he is able to adapt himself to every condition and class of men, and thus to win for the Gospel larger gains (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). For himself, his best hope is to partake in its salvation with those he strives to save (1 Corinthians 9:23).