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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:15 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Co 9:15 |
Strong Concordance |
But [1161] I [1473] have used [5530] none [3762] of these things [5130]: [1161] neither [3756] have I written [1125] these things [5023], that [2443] it should be [1096] so [3779] done [1096] unto [1722] me [1698]: for [1063] it were better [3123] for me [3427] to die [599] [2570], than [2228] that [2443] any man [5100] should make [2758] my [3450] glorying [2745] void [2758]. |
|
King James |
But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Paul's special gift of continency, which enabled him to abstain from marriage, and his ability to maintain himself without interrupting seriously his ministry, made that expedient to him which is ordinarily inexpedient; namely, that the ministry should not be supported by the people. What to him was a duty, would be the opposite to one, for instance, to whom God had committed a family, without other means of support.
I have used none of these things--none of these "powers" or rights which I might have used (Co1 9:4-6, Co1 9:12).
neither--rather, "Yet I have not written."
so done unto me--literally, "in my case": as is done in the case of a soldier, a planter, a shepherd, a ploughman, and a sacrificing priest (Co1 9:7, Co1 9:10, Co1 9:13).
make my glorying void--deprive me of my privilege of preaching the Gospel without remuneration (Co2 11:7-10). Rather than hinder the progress of the Gospel by giving any pretext for a charge of interested motives (Co2 12:17-18), Paul would "die" of hunger. Compare Abraham's similar disinterestedness (Gen 14:22-23). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
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 Act 20:33; Th2 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 Phi 1:26; Heb 3:6), was:
(1) that he had preached the gospel without expense to anybody, and had thus prevented the charge of avarice Co1 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, Co1 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. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
It were better for me to die than - To give occasion to them that seek occasion against me, Co2 11:12. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Neither have I written, etc. - 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. |
22 And Abram [087] said [0559] to the king [04428] of Sodom [05467], I have lift up [07311] mine hand [03027] unto the LORD [03068], the most high [05945] God [0410], the possessor [07069] of heaven [08064] and earth [0776],
23 That I will not [0518] take from a thread [02339] even to a shoelatchet [05275] [08288], and that I will not [0518] take [03947] any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say [0559], I have made [06238] Abram [087] rich [06238]:
17 Did I make a gain [4122] [3361] of you [5209] by [1223] any [5100] of them [846] whom [3739] I sent [649] unto [4314] you [5209]?
18 I desired [3870] Titus [5103], and [2532] with him I sent [4882] a brother [80]. Did [4122] [3387] Titus [5103] make a gain [4122] of you [5209]? walked we [4043] not [3756] in the same [846] spirit [4151]? walked we not [3756] in the same [846] steps [2487]?
7 [2228] Have I committed [4160] an offence [266] in abasing [5013] myself [1683] that [2443] ye [5210] might be exalted [5312], because [3754] I have preached [2097] to you [5213] the gospel [2098] of God [2316] freely [1432]?
8 I robbed [4813] other [243] churches [1577], taking [2983] wages [3800] of them, to [4314] do [1248] you [5216] service [1248].
9 And [2532] when I was present [3918] with [4314] you [5209], and [2532] wanted [5302], I was [3756] chargeable [2655] to no man [3762]: for [1063] that which was lacking [5303] to me [3450] the brethren [80] which came [2064] from [575] Macedonia [3109] supplied [4322]: and [2532] in [1722] all [3956] things I have kept [5083] myself [1683] from being burdensome [4] unto you [5213], and [2532] so will I keep [5083] myself.
10 As the truth [225] of Christ [5547] is [2076] in [1722] me [1698], [3754] no man [3756] shall stop [4972] [5420] me [1519] [1691] of this [3778] boasting [2746] in [1722] the regions [2824] of Achaia [882].
13 Do ye [1492] not [3756] know [1492] that [3754] they which minister [2038] about holy things [2413] live [2068] of the things of [1537] the temple [2411]? and they which wait [4332] at the altar [2379] are partakers [4829] with the altar [2379]?
10 Or [2228] saith he [3004] it altogether [3843] for [1223] our [2248] sakes [1223]? For [1223] our [2248] sakes [1223], no doubt [1063], this is written [1125]: that [3754] he that ploweth [722] should [3784] plow [722] in [1909] hope [1680]; and [2532] that he that thresheth [248] in hope [1680] should be partaker [3348] of [1909] his [846] hope [1680].
7 Who [5101] goeth a warfare [4754] any time at [4218] his own [2398] charges [3800]? who [5101] planteth [5452] a vineyard [290], and [2532] eateth [2068] not [3756] of [1537] the fruit [2590] thereof [846]? or [2228] who [5101] feedeth [4165] a flock [4167], and [2532] eateth [2068] not [3756] of [1537] the milk [1051] of the flock [4167]?
12 If [1487] others [243] be partakers [3348] of this power [1849] over you [5216], are not [3756] we [2249] rather [3123]? Nevertheless [235] we have [5530] not [3756] used [5530] this [5026] power [1849]; but [235] suffer [4722] all things [3956], lest [3363] we should [1325] [5100] hinder [1464] the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547].
4 Have we [2192] not [3378] power [1849] to eat [5315] and [2532] to drink [4095]?
5 Have we [2192] not [3378] power [1849] to lead about [4013] a sister [79], a wife [1135], as well as [5613] [2532] other [3062] apostles [652], and [2532] as the brethren [80] of the Lord [2962], and [2532] Cephas [2786]?
6 Or [2228] I [1473] only [3441] and [2532] Barnabas [921], have [2192] not [3756] we [2192] power [1849] to forbear [3361] working [2038]?
23 And [1161] this [5124] I do [4160] for [1223] the gospel's [2098] sake [1223], that [2443] I might be [1096] partaker [4791] thereof [846] with [4791] you.
24 Know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] they which run [5143] in [1722] a race [4712] run [5143] all [3956] [3303], but [1161] one [1520] receiveth [2983] the prize [1017]? So [3779] run [5143], that [2443] ye may obtain [2638].
25 And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].
26 I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:
27 But [235] I keep under [5299] my [3450] body [4983], and [2532] bring it into subjection [1396]: lest that by any means [3381] [4458], when I have preached [2784] to others [243], I myself [846] should be [1096] a castaway [96].
18 What [5101] is [2076] my [3427] reward [3408] then [3767]? Verily that [2443], when I preach the gospel [2097], I may make [5087] the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547] without charge [77], that [1519] I abuse [2710] not [3361] my [3450] power [1849] in [1722] the gospel [2098].
6 But [1161] Christ [5547] as [5613] a son [5207] over [1909] his own [846] house [3624]; whose [3739] house [3624] are [2070] we [2249], if [1437] [4007] we hold fast [2722] the confidence [3954] and [2532] the rejoicing [2745] of the hope [1680] firm [949] unto [3360] the end [5056].
26 That [2443] your [5216] rejoicing [2745] may be more abundant [4052] in [1722] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] for [1722] me [1698] by [1223] my [1699] coming [3952] to [4314] you [5209] again [3825].
8 Neither [3761] did we eat [5315] any man's [3844] [5100] bread [740] for nought [1432]; but [235] wrought [2038] with [1722] labour [2873] and [2532] travail [3449] night [3571] and [2532] day [2250], that [4314] we might [1912] not [3361] be chargeable [1912] to any [5100] of you [5216]:
33 I have coveted [1937] no man's [3762] silver [694], or [2228] gold [5553], or [2228] apparel [2441].
12 But [1161] what [3739] I do [4160], that [2532] I will do [4160], that [2443] I may cut off [1581] occasion [874] from them which desire [2309] occasion [874]; that [2443] wherein [1722] [3739] they glory [2744], they may be found [2147] even [2532] as [2531] we [2249].