In the present chapter Paul asserts his personal rights and privileges as an apostle, verses 1 Corinthians 9:1-14; and then proceeds to show how he has willingly given them up for Christ's sake, therein proposing his own example for the imitation of those among the Corinthians who were disposed to i... [ Continue Reading ]
SEAT OF MINE APOSTLESHIP; their conversion was evidence that Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXAMINE ME; concerning his credentials as an apostle, and his privileges as such.... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER TO EAT AND TO DRINK; a right to be maintained at their expense, instead of supporting himself by manual labor. Acts 18:3; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9.... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER TO LEAD ABOUT A SISTER, A WIFE; he had as good a right to be married, and have his family supported, as Peter and other apostles had. Ministers of the gospel, whether settled in Christian or missionaries to heathen lands, have a right to be married, and with their families to be supported; tho... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER TO FORBEAR WORKING; to abstain from working for their own support.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A MAN; merely on the common principles of justice. THE LAW; the law of God. Deuteronomy 25:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT MUZZLE THE MOUTH OF THE OX; the ox had a right to support from those for whom he labored, and they could not withhold it without sinning against God, who required it of them. TAKE CARE FOR OXEN; is it for the sake of oxen that this precept is given? that is, oxen alone, or chiefly. The apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR SAKES-THIS IS WRITTEN; to show that it is the will of God that ministers of the gospel should receive support from the people for whom they labor, and that all who labor are entitled to a just reward for their services. Specific directions contained in the Old Testament, even with regard to... [ Continue Reading ]
SOWN UNTO YOU SPIRITUAL THINGS; labored for the good of your souls. REAP YOUR CARNAL THINGS; receive in return what is needful for support.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS POWER; the right to a maintenance. SUFFER ALL THINGS; all the inconveniences and hardships of not being supported by the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WHICH MINISTER-AND THEY WHICH WAIT; the priests and the Levites, who, under the Old Testament, conducted and waited upon the religious services at the temple. ARE PARTAKERS WITH THE ALTAR; they were supported from the offerings and contributions which the people brought to the altar.... [ Continue Reading ]
ORDAINED; appointed; required. LIVE OF THE GOSPEL; be supported. The support of ministers of Christ who devote their lives to the preaching of the gospel is not a charitable donation, but a debt justly due, and cannot be withheld without injustice to them, and dishonor to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
USED NONE OF THESE THINGS; he had not required them to support him, nor did he write this to induce them to do it. He judged that such was then the peculiar state of things, that he could do more good by supporting himself. MAKE MY GLORYING VOID; his glorying that he preached the gospel free of cha... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTHING TO GLORY OF; nothing from the fact of his preaching. NECESSITY IS LAID UPON ME; after the commission he had received from Christ, he could not, consistently with duty, refrain from preaching.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE A REWARD; for fulfilling the charge committed to me with a willing mind. AGAINST MY WILL; even if reluctantly, I still have a trust which I must fulfill. When ministers of the gospel relinquish their just rights, submit to inconveniences, perform labors, and make sacrifices for the sake of d... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS MY REWARD THEN? in the course he was willing and joyfully pursuing for their good. It was the satisfaction arising from his disinterested labors, the approval of conscience and of God. THAT I ABUSE NOT MY POWER; or right, by requiring them to support him, when this would hinder his usefulne... [ Continue Reading ]
FREE FROM ALL; free from obligation to men to preach the gospel without charge. GAIN THE MORE; lead more souls to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAME AS A JEW; complied with their customs so far as he innocently could.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW; the Gentiles, who had not the written law of God. AS WITHOUT LAW; he omitted those compliances with the ceremonial law which he practised when among Jews. UNDER THE LAW TO CHRIST; bound in all things to obey him.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN; complied, in all things lawful, with their wishes.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARTAKER THEREOF; of the blessings which the gospel confers.... [ Continue Reading ]
RUN IN A RACE; the foot-race, with which the Corinthians were familiar.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS; the Grecian racers subjected themselves to a very severe training, that they might thus bring their body to the most perfect condition for the race.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO RUN, NOT AS UNCERTAINLY; not as one who runs at random, without knowing his goal or how to reach it. The apostle means, that he so lived as to be sure of obtaining the approbation of God, and receiving a crown of glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP UNDER MY BODY; literally, beat it in the face, after the manner of a boxer. This represents the severe discipline to which he subjected his appetites and passions according to God's word. Ministers of Christ who have long preached the gospel, are not on that account sure of heaven. Nor can they... [ Continue Reading ]