1 Corinthians 9:15

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights, and I am not trying to get anything from you. That is not my purpose for writing this. I would rather die than to have someone take away what for me is a great source of pride. ¹⁵ But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have any one deprive me of my ground for boasting. ¹⁵ But I have vsed none of these thinges. Nether wrote I these thinges that it shuld be so done vnto me. For it were better for me to dye the yt eny man shnld take this reioysinge from me ¹⁵ But I have used none of these things, and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void. ¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights, and I'm not writing this so that they may be applied in my case. I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason forreason for">[fn] boasting.Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 9:12; 2 Corinthians 11:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8;">[xr] ¹⁵ But I have used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make my boast an empty one!¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this now to get anything from you. I would rather die than to have my reason for bragging taken away. ¹⁵ But I have used none of these things: and I do not write these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it was] good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void. ¹⁵ But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done to me: for [it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. ¹⁵ But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I have: 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 4:12, Acts 8:3, Acts 20:34, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8

neither: 2 Corinthians 11:9-12, 2 Corinthians 12:13-18

for: Matthew 18:6, Acts 20:24, Philippians 1:20-23

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:24 - let Numbers 16:15 - I have not Ezra 8:22 - I was ashamed Ezekiel 34:8 - the shepherds Jonah 4:3 - for Matthew 19:12 - which have Luke 17:2 - better Acts 20:33 - General 1 Corinthians 4:14 - write 1 Corinthians 7:7 - I would 2 Corinthians 11:10 - no man shall stop me of this boasting

Cross-References

Genesis 9:8
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,

Genesis 9:8
And God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

Genesis 9:8
Then God said to Noah and his sons,

Genesis 9:8
God said to Noah and his sons,

Genesis 9:8
And God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

Genesis 9:8
God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

Genesis 9:8
Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

Genesis 9:8
and to his sones with him, Lo!

Genesis 9:8
And God speaketh unto Noah, and unto his sons with him, saying,

Genesis 9:8
Then God said to Noah and his sons with him,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But I have used none of these things,.... Either none of these arguments or reasons, for a minister's maintenance, taken from the reason of things, the law of Moses, the examples of the priests and Levites, and the order and appointment of Christ, in favour of himself, and that he might be provided for by them accordingly; or none of the things he had a right to do as other apostles, as to eat and drink at the public expense, to lead about with him a sister, a wife, had he any, and to forbear working with his own hands:

neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me; it was not on his own account that he gave these strong reasons, urged these instances, and so undeniably proved this point, that ministers should be maintained by the people; and this he says to prevent what some might be ready enough to suggest, that though the apostle had as yet took nothing of the church at Corinth, it was plain, that for the time to come, he meant to do it; and therefore had written these things with such a view, to make way for his after supply from them. This he denies, and gives his reason for it,

for it were better for me to die; through want, with famine, could he be supplied no other way, than to take the least farthing of them:

or than that any man should make my glorying void; meaning not so much his inward pleasure, joy, and satisfaction in preaching the Gospel freely, it being more blessed to give than to receive; but his boasting or glorying, not before God, but against the false apostles; that he had never taken anything of the church at Corinth for preaching, nor never would, when they had insinuated he preached for gain, and by artful methods had got their money, and drained their purses.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But I have used none of these things - I have not urged and enforced this right. I have chosen to support myself by the labor of my own hands. This had been objected to him as a reason why he could not be an apostle. He here shows that that was not the reason why he had not; urged this claim; but that it was because in this way he could do most to honor the gospel and save the souls of people; compare Acts 20:33; 2 Thessalonians 3:8. The sense is, “Though my right to a support is established, in common with others, both by reason, the nature of the case, the examples in the law, and the command of the Lord Jesus, yet there are reasons why I have not chosen to avail myself of this right, and why I have not urged these claims.”

Neither have I written these things ... - “I have not presented this argument now in order to induce you to provide for me. I do not intend now to ask or receive a support from you. I urge it to show that I feel that I have a right to it; that my conduct is not an argument that I am conscious I am not an apostle; and that I might urge it were there not strong reasons which determine me not to do it. I neither ask you to send me now a support, nor, if I visit you again, do I expect you will contribute to my maintenance.”

For it were better for me to die ... - There are advantages growing out of my not urging this claim which are of more importance to me than life. Rather than forego these advantages, it would be better for me - it would be a thing which I would prefer - to pine in poverty and want; to be exposed to peril, and cold, and storms, until life should close. I esteem my “glorying,” the advantages of my course, to be of more value than life itself.

Than that any man should make my glorying void - His glorying, or boasting, or “joying,” as it may be more properly rendered τὸ καύχημά μου to kauchēma mou; compare Philippians 1:26; Hebrews 3:6), was:

(1) That he had preached the gospel without expense to anybody, and had thus prevented the charge of avarice 1 Corinthians 9:18; and,

(2) That he had been able to keep his body under, and pursue a course of self-denial that would result in his happiness and glory in heaven, 1 Corinthians 9:23-27. “Any man” would have made that “void,” if he had supported Paul; had prevented the necessity of his labor, and had thus exposed him to the charge of having preached the gospel for the sake of gain.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 9:15. Neither have I written, c.] Though I might plead the authority of God in the law, of Christ in the Gospel, the common consent of our own doctors, and the usages of civil society, yet I have not availed myself of my privileges nor do I now write with the intention to lay in my claims.