1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15-18

Here he tells them that he had, notwithstanding, waived his privilege, and lays down his reason for doing it. I. He tells them that he had neglected to claim his right in times past: I have used none of these things, 1 Cor. 9:15. He neither ate nor drank himself at their cost, nor led about a wife to be maintained by them, nor forbore working to maintain himself. From others he received a maintenance, but not from them, for some special reasons. Nor did he write this to make his claim now.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:15-23

9:15-23 But I have claimed none of these rights. I am not writing this to claim that these privileges should be extended to me. I would rather die than let anyone make ineffective my boast that I take nothing for my work. If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about in that. I do it because necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! If I do this of my own choice I do deserve a reward. But if I do it whether I like it or not, it is because I have been... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:16

For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of ,.... The sense is not, that if he preached the Gospel in order for a livelihood, and to serve his private advantage, he should have no room for glorying; since, if this was the case, he should be obliged to do it, or perish for want: but his meaning is, that though he preached the Gospel ever so well, or ever so freely, and might glory before men, and against the false teachers, who insulted him in his character and office; yet not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:16

For though I preach the Gospel - I have cause of glorying that I preach the Gospel free of all charges to you; but I cannot glory in being a preacher of the Gospel, because I am not such either by my own skill or power. I have received both the office, and the grace by which I execute the office, from God. I have not only his authority to preach, but that authority obliges me to preach; and if I did not, I should endanger my salvation: yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel. As every... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:16

Verse 16 16.For if I preach the gospel. To show how very important it was not to deprive himself of that ground of glorying, he intimates what would have happened, if he had simply discharged his ministry — that he would in this way have done nothing else than what the Lord had enjoined upon him by a strict necessity By doing that, he says, he would have had no occasion for glorying, as it was not in his power to avoid doing it. (493) It is asked, however, what glorying he here refers to, for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:1-21

The leading characteristics of a truly great gospel minister. "Am I not an apostle? am I not free?" etc. Taking these verses as a whole, they illustrate some of the leading characteristics of a truly great gospel minister, and I offer the following remarks:— I. The greater the minister of Christ, the MORE INDEPENDENT OF CEREMONIAL RESTRICTIONS . Paul was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, ministers of Christ that ever existed. He was an apostle, and had "seen... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

The rights and the self denial of an apostle. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:4-18

Ministerial support. Having vindicated his claim to be reckoned among the apostles of Christ, Paul proceeds to assert his right to a temporal maintenance at the hands of those to whom he ministered. The other apostles received support, not only for themselves, but also for their wives: why should he not make the same claim? Though he was unmarried, and though he had hitherto supported himself by the labour of his own hands, this did not invalidate his right. Consider— I. THE RIGHT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15-23

Self denying ordinance of St. Paul. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15-23

Reasons for this self denial. The rights had been resigned, the power to use his privileges had been unused, and the obligation, self assumed, was to be perpetual. Did any one suspect otherwise? "Better for me to die" than this matter of boasting should be taken from me. No ground for boasting existed in the mere preaching of the gospel; but he could claim and did claim that, in renouncing his right to a support and making other exceptional sacrifices, he was entitled to the boast of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:15-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:4-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15-23

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15-23

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