15 But G1161 I G1473 have used G5530 none G3762 of these things: G5130 G1161 neither G3756 have I written G1125 these things, G5023 that G2443 it should be G1096 so G3779 done G1096 unto G1722 me: G1698 for G1063 it were better G3123 for me G3427 to die, G599 G2570 than G2228 that G2443 any man G5100 should make G2758 my G3450 glorying G2745 void. G2758
And G2532 because G1223 he was G1511 of the same craft, G3673 he abode G3306 with G3844 them, G846 and G2532 wrought: G2038 for G1063 by their occupation G5078 they were G2258 tentmakers. G4635
If G1487 others G243 be partakers G3348 of this power G1849 over you, G5216 are not G3756 we G2249 rather? G3123 Nevertheless G235 we have G5530 not G3756 used G5530 this G5026 power; G1849 but G235 suffer G4722 all things, G3956 lest G3363 we should G1325 G5100 hinder G1464 the gospel G2098 of Christ. G5547
But G1161 whoso G3739 G302 shall offend G4624 one G1520 of these G5130 little ones G3398 which G3588 believe G4100 in G1519 me, G1691 it were better G4851 for him G846 that G2443 a millstone G3458 G3684 were hanged G2910 about G1909 his G846 neck, G5137 and G2532 that he were drowned G2670 in G1722 the depth G3989 of the sea. G2281
As G1161 for Saul, G4569 he made havock G3075 of the church, G1577 entering into G1531 every G2596 house, G3624 and haling G4951 G5037 men G435 and G2532 women G1135 committed G3860 them to G1519 prison. G5438
But G235 none G3762 of these things G3056 move me, G4160 neither G3761 count I G2192 my G3450 life G5590 dear G5093 unto myself, G1683 so G5613 that I might finish G5048 my G3450 course G1408 with G3326 joy, G5479 and G2532 the ministry, G1248 which G3739 I have received G2983 of G3844 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 to testify G1263 the gospel G2098 of the grace G5485 of God. G2316
And G2532 labour, G2872 working G2038 with our own G2398 hands: G5495 being reviled, G3058 we bless; G2127 being persecuted, G1377 we suffer it: G430
And G2532 when I was present G3918 with G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 wanted, G5302 I was G3756 chargeable G2655 to no man: G3762 for G1063 that which was lacking G5303 to me G3450 the brethren G80 which came G2064 from G575 Macedonia G3109 supplied: G4322 and G2532 in G1722 all G3956 things I have kept G5083 myself G1683 from being burdensome G4 unto you, G5213 and G2532 so will I keep G5083 myself. As the truth G225 of Christ G5547 is G2076 in G1722 me, G1698 G3754 no man G3756 shall stop G4972 G5420 me G1519 G1691 of this G3778 boasting G2746 in G1722 the regions G2824 of Achaia. G882 Wherefore? G1302 because G3754 I love G25 you G5209 not? G3756 God G2316 knoweth. G1492 But G1161 what G3739 I do, G4160 that G2532 I will do, G4160 that G2443 I may cut off G1581 occasion G874 from them which desire G2309 occasion; G874 that G2443 wherein G1722 G3739 they glory, G2744 they may be found G2147 even G2532 as G2531 we. G2249
According G2596 to my G3450 earnest expectation G603 and G2532 my hope, G1680 that G3754 in G1722 nothing G3762 I shall be ashamed, G153 but G235 that with G1722 all G3956 boldness, G3954 as G5613 always, G3842 so now G3568 also G2532 Christ G5547 shall be magnified G3170 in G1722 my G3450 body, G4983 whether G1535 it be by G1223 life, G2222 or G1535 by G1223 death. G2288 For G1063 to me G1698 to live G2198 is Christ, G5547 and G2532 to die G599 is gain. G2771 But G1161 if G1487 I live G2198 in G1722 the flesh, G4561 this G5124 is the fruit G2590 of my labour: G2041 G3427 yet G2532 what G5101 I shall choose G138 I wot G1107 not. G3756 For G1063 I am in a strait G4912 betwixt G1537 two, G1417 having G2192 a desire G1939 to G1519 depart, G360 and G2532 to be G1511 with G4862 Christ; G5547 which is far G4183 G3123 better: G2908
For G1063 ye remember, G3421 brethren, G80 our G2257 labour G2873 and G2532 travail: G3449 for G1063 labouring G2038 night G3571 and G2532 day, G2250 because G4314 we would G1912 not G3361 be chargeable G1912 unto any G5100 of you, G5216 we preached G2784 unto G1519 you G5209 the gospel G2098 of God. G2316
Neither G3761 did we eat G5315 any man's G3844 G5100 bread G740 for nought; G1432 but G235 wrought G2038 with G1722 labour G2873 and G2532 travail G3449 night G3571 and G2532 day, G2250 that G4314 we might G1912 not G3361 be chargeable G1912 to any G5100 of you: G5216
For G1063 what G5101 is it G2076 wherein G3739 ye were inferior G2274 to G5228 other G3062 churches, G1577 except G1508 it be that G3754 I G1473 myself G846 was G2655 not G3756 burdensome G2655 to you? G5216 forgive G5483 me G3427 this G5026 wrong. G93 Behold, G2400 the third time G5154 I am G2192 ready G2093 to come G2064 to G4314 you; G5209 and G2532 I will G2655 not G3756 be burdensome G2655 to you: G5216 for G1063 I seek G2212 not G3756 yours, G5216 but G235 you: G5209 for G1063 the children G5043 ought G3784 not G3756 to lay up G2343 for the parents, G1118 but G235 the parents G1118 for the children. G5043 And G1161 I G1473 will very gladly G2236 spend G1159 and G2532 be spent G1550 for G5228 you; G5590 G5216 though G1499 the more abundantly G4056 I love G25 you, G5209 the less G2276 I be loved. G25 But G1161 be it so, G2077 I G1473 did G2599 not G3756 burden G2599 you: G5209 nevertheless, G235 being G5225 crafty, G3835 I caught G2983 you G5209 with guile. G1388 Did I make a gain G4122 G3361 of you G5209 by G1223 any G5100 of them G846 whom G3739 I sent G649 unto G4314 you? G5209 I desired G3870 Titus, G5103 and G2532 with him I sent G4882 a brother. G80 Did G4122 G3387 Titus G5103 make a gain G4122 of you? G5209 walked we G4043 not G3756 in the same G846 spirit? G4151 walked we not G3756 in the same G846 steps? G2487
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
In this chapter the apostle seems to answer some cavils against himself.
1Cr 9:1-2
Blessed Paul, in the work of his ministry, not only met with opposition from those without, but discouragement from those within. He was under reproach; false brethren questioned his apostleship, and were very industrious to lessen his character and sink his reputation; particularly here at Corinth, a place to which he had been instrumental in doing much good, and from which he had deserved well; and yet there were those among them who upon these heads created him great uneasiness. Note, It is no strange nor new thing for a minister to meet with very unkind returns for great good-will to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. Some among the Corinthians questioned, if they did not disown, his apostolical character. To their cavils he here answers, and in such a manner as to set forth himself as a remarkable example of that self-denial, for the good of others, which he had been recommending in the former chapter. And,
1Cr 9:3-14
Having asserted his apostolical authority, he proceeds to claim the rights belonging to his office, especially that of being maintained by it.
1Cr 9:15-18
Here he tells them that he had, notwithstanding, waived his privilege, and lays down his reason for doing it.
1Cr 9:19-23
The apostle takes occasion from what he had before discoursed to mention some other instances of his self-denial and parting with his liberty for the benefit of others.
1Cr 9:24-27
In these verses the apostle hints at the great encouragement he had to act in this manner. He had a glorious prize, an incorruptible crown, in view. Upon this head he compares himself to the racers and combatants in the Isthmian games, an allusion well known to the Corinthians, because they were celebrated in their neighbourhood: "Know you not that those who run in a race run all, but one obtaineth the prize? v. 24. All run at your games, but only one gets the race and wins the crown.' And here,