1 Corinthians 9:15
in 1 Corinthians 9But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 9
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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; 2Th 3:
This site's exposition
But I have not used
on 1 Corinthians 9:15-16
Paul would rather die than let anyone nullify his boast, preaching the gospel at his own charge. Preaching gives him no reason to boast, since the obligation to preach was laid on him at his calling on the Damascus road.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
And he comes back again, and in all ways, over and over again, enforceth what he hath the right to do, yet doeth not. "Do ye not know," saith he, "that they which work in the temple, eat of the things which are in the temple? they which serve the altar, have their share with the altar? So hath the Lord ordained for them which preach the Gospel, to live of the Gospel. But I have used none of these things." What more open than this? what more clear? I fear lest haply, while I discourse wishing to expound this, that become obscure which in itself is bright and clear. For they who understand not these words, or feign not to understand, do much less understand mine, or profess to understand.
Paul says he would rather die because he knew it would be better from the standpoint of his future salvation.
"It is better that I die" than that they ravish and plunder some of my brothers and by sly verbal deception lead captive the "little children" and sucklings in Christ.
Of this he boasted, and suffered no man to rob him of such glory -certainly with no view of destroying the law, which he proved that another man might use.
And, "(I think) God hath selected us the apostles (as) hindmost, like men appointed to fight with wild beasts; since we have been made a spectacle to this world, both to angels and to men: "And, "We have been made the offscourings of this world, the refuse of all: "And, "Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Christ Jesus our Lord? " With what kind of superciliousness, on the contrary, was he compelled to declare, "But to me it is of small moment that I be interrogated by you, or by a human court-day; for neither am I conscious to myself (of any guilt); "and, "My glory none shall make empty." "Know ye not that we are to judge angels? " Again, of how open censure (does) the free expression (find utterance), how manifest the edge of the spiritual sword, (in words like these): "Ye are already enriched! ye are already satiated! ye are already reigning!" and, "If any thinks himself to know, he knoweth not yet how it behaves him to know I" Is he not even then "smiting some one's face," in saying, "For who maketh thee to differ? What, moreover, hast thou which thou hast not received? Why gloriest thou as if thou have not received? " Is he not withal "smiting them upon the mouth," (in saying): "But some, in (their) conscience, even until now eat (it) as if (it were) an idol-sacrifice.
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
"But I have used none of these things:" What then if thou hast not used them now, saith one, but intendest to use them at a future time, and on this account sayest these things. Far from it; for he speedily corrected the notion, thus saying; "And I write not these things that it may be so done in my case." And see with what vehemence he disavows and repels the thing: "For it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void." And not once nor twice, but many times he uses this expression. For above he said, "We did not use this right:" and after this again, "that I abuse not my right:" and here, "but I have used none of these things." "These things;" what things? The many examples. That is to say, many things giving me license; the soldier, the husbandman, the shepherd, the Apostles, the law, the things done by us unto you, the things done by you unto the others, the priests, the ordinance of Christ; by none of these have I been induced to abolish my own law, and to receive. And speak not to me of the past: (although I could say, that I have endured much even in past times on this account,) nevertheless I do not rest on it alone, but likewise concerning the future I pledge myself, that I would choose rather to die of hunger than be deprived of these crowns. "For it were good for me rather to die," saith he, "than that any man should make my glorying void." He said not, "that any man should abolish my law," but, "my glorying." For lest any should say, "he doth it indeed but not cheerfully, but with lamentation and grief," willing to show the excess of his joy and the abundance of his zeal, he even calls the matter "glorying." So far was he from vexing himself that he even glories, and chooses rather to die than to fall from this "glorying." So much dearer to him even than life itself was that proceeding of his.
"In the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as are with them: for the workman is worthy of his hire." Here it appears that these things were not commanded, but permitted, that whoso should choose to use, might use that which was lawful unto him by the Lord's appointment; but if any should not choose to use it, he would not do contrary to a thing commanded, but would be yielding up his own right, by demeaning himself more mercifully and laboriously in the Gospel, in the which he would not accept even the hire which was his due. Otherwise the Apostle did contrary to a command of the Lord: for, after he had shown it to be lawful unto him, he hath straightway subjoined, "But yet have I not used this power."
The Medieval Church1 voice
That is, I did not make use of any of the above-mentioned Old Testament examples, nor of the commandment of Christ, in order to eat and drink at your expense. So that no one would say to him: "What then? If you have not made …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Though he here asserts his right, yet he does not claim his due; but denies himself for their sakes, and the gospel. We have the reason assigned of his exercising this self-denial. He would not have his glorying made void: It were better for his to die than that any man should make his glorying void,
He shows that this self-denial was more honourable in itself, and yielded him much more content and comfort, than his preaching did: " Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing whereof to glory; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
But I have used none of these things,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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.
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.
The words behind it
26 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| κέχρημαι | kechremai | have used | G5530 → | 11 times |
| οὐδενὶ | oudeni | not any | G3762 → | 232 times |
| τούτων· | touton | of these; | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | Neither | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔγραψα | egrapsa | have I written | G1125 → | 189 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| γένηται | genetai | it may become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐμοί· | emoi | me myself; | G1473 → | 839 times |
| καλὸν | kalon | good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| μοι | moi | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | rather | G3123 → | 81 times |
| ἀποθανεῖν | apothanein | to die | G599 → | 110 times |
| ἢ | e | than | G2228 → | 342 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καύχημά | kauchema | boasting | G2745 → | 11 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| οὐδεὶς | oudeis | no [one] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| κενώσει. | kenosei | will make void. | G2758 → |
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
κέχρημαιhave used
kechremaiG5530 →11 times
οὐδενὶnot any
oudeniG3762 →232 times
τούτων·of these;
toutonG3778 →1381 times
οὐκNeither
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔγραψαhave I written
egrapsaG1125 →189 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ταῦταthese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
οὕτωςthus
houtosG3779 →208 times
γένηταιit may become
genetaiG1096 →667 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐμοί·me myself;
emoiG1473 →839 times
καλὸνgood
kalonG2570 →101 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
μοιme
moiG3165 →1936 times
μᾶλλονrather
mallonG3123 →81 times
ἀποθανεῖνto die
apothaneinG599 →110 times
ἢthan
eG2228 →342 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
καύχημάboasting
kauchemaG2745 →11 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
οὐδεὶςno [one]
oudeisG3762 →232 times
κενώσει.will make void.
kenoseiG2758 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Acts 21:13
Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
it leads to
- Acts 18:3
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- Acts 18:3
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
it leads to
- Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
- Matthew 6:11
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Augustine of Hippo, OF THE WORK OF MONKS 10; Augustine of Hippo, OF THE WORK OF MONKS 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 22; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 4.6; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Tertullian, On Modesty and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.