1 Corinthians 9:15 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.
1 Corinthians 9:15 nkjv
But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.
1 Corinthians 9:15 niv
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.
1 Corinthians 9:15 esv
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.
1 Corinthians 9:15 nlt
Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
1 Corinthians 9 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 9:12 | "...Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure everything so that we may not put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ." | Not using rights for gospel's sake. |
| 1 Cor 9:18 | "What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel." | The nature of Paul's unique "reward" and goal. |
| 2 Cor 11:7-9 | "Did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you." | Paul's rationale for self-support in Corinth. |
| 2 Cor 12:13-14 | "...for I was not a burden to you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." | His deliberate decision not to burden them. |
| 1 Thes 2:9 | "For you yourselves remember, brothers, our toil and labor: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God." | Consistent practice of self-sufficiency. |
| 2 Thes 3:8-9 | "nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example..." | Exemplary conduct and a clear precedent. |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | "For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Acknowledges worker's right to wages. |
| Lk 10:7 | "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | Jesus' teaching on ministerial support. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | Principle of supporting those who teach. |
| Deut 25:4 | "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." | Old Testament law for a worker's entitlement. |
| Phil 1:21 | "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." | Death as gain for Christ's sake. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." | Renouncing personal gain for Christ. |
| Acts 20:24 | "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus..." | Life's purpose centered on gospel ministry. |
| Rom 15:17 | "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason for boasting in things pertaining to God." | Boasting rightly in God's work. |
| 2 Cor 10:17 | "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." | True Christian boasting. |
| Gal 6:14 | "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." | Paul's ultimate boast in the cross. |
| Rom 14:13 | "...but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." | Avoiding causing offense. |
| 1 Cor 8:9 | "But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." | Using liberty without causing a stumble. |
| Gal 5:13 | "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." | Using freedom in Christ for service. |
| 1 Cor 9:19 | "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them." | Voluntarily renouncing freedom for others. |
| Rom 8:36 | "As it is written: 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.'" | Readiness to suffer and die for Christ. |
1 Corinthians 9 verses
1 Corinthians 9 15 Meaning
In 1 Corinthians 9:15, the Apostle Paul unequivocally states that he has not exercised his legitimate right to receive financial support from the Corinthians. He further clarifies that his current discussion of these rights is not an indirect plea for such support. He asserts a deeply profound conviction: he would rather face death than allow anyone to undermine or invalidate his particular "glorying" or "boasting," which stems from preaching the gospel without financial burden or cost to his audience. This statement highlights his sacrificial commitment to ensuring the gospel's free and unhindered proclamation.
1 Corinthians 9 15 Context
1 Corinthians chapter 9 finds Paul defending his apostleship, which some in Corinth likely questioned, partly because he did not accept financial support unlike other apostles. This chapter begins with Paul asserting his rights as an apostle (e.g., to financial support, to marry) and providing various justifications: his personal encounter with Christ, his ministry's fruit in Corinth, the example of other apostles, Old Testament law, and even common societal principles. However, Paul immediately pivots from asserting his rights to declaring that he chose not to exercise them. His objective throughout the chapter is to demonstrate that his liberty, exercised or renounced, is always subservient to the unhindered proclamation of the gospel. Verse 15 marks a pivotal declaration of this personal sacrifice, revealing his supreme motivation: maintaining the unique credibility of his message.Historically, in the Roman-Hellenistic world, itinerant philosophers, rhetoricians, and religious teachers often charged fees for their services. For some, accepting payment could imply the superiority of their teachings; for others, it marked them as mere professionals. By refusing payment, Paul deliberately distinguished himself, aiming to prove that his message was truly "free" and not commercially driven, thereby preventing any perception of mercenary motives or discrediting the divine nature of the gospel he preached.
1 Corinthians 9 15 Word analysis
But I have used none of these things:
- "used" (ἐχρησάμην, echrēsamēn): From χράομαι (chraomai), meaning to use, make use of, treat. The aorist tense highlights a decisive past action, indicating a continuous non-practice of accepting support up to the present.
- "none of these things": Refers directly to the rights Paul enumerated in the preceding verses, especially the right to material provision (food, drink, and financial support). This emphasizes his complete abstention from demanding or receiving remuneration for his ministry.
neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me:
- Paul clarifies his intention in writing. His defense of his apostolic rights is not a veiled request for the Corinthians to begin supporting him. He is articulating his freedom and purpose, not soliciting funds. This directly counters any potential misinterpretation that he might be hinting for future financial gain after discussing his entitlement.
for it were better for me to die:
- "better" (καλὸν, kalon): Means good, honorable, noble, excellent. Coupled with "die," this expresses a stark, almost hyperbole-level preference.
- "to die" (ἀποθανεῖν, apothanein): From ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō). This is a strong expression, not necessarily a literal death wish, but a profound declaration of priority and commitment. Paul would rather forfeit his life than compromise what he considers his most precious unique spiritual privilege concerning his gospel ministry. It conveys the immense value he placed on his unburdened preaching.
than that any man should make my glorying void:
- "than that any man should make...void" (ἢ τὸ καύχημά μου οὐδεὶς κενώσει, ē to kauchēma mou oudeis kenōsei):
- "glorying" (καύχημα, kauchēma): This term denotes something boasted of, a ground of boasting, or an object of pride. For Paul, it is not a boast in himself or his personal accomplishments, but specifically in his distinctive and unique method of preaching the gospel "without cost" (v. 18), freely and without charge. This selflessness allowed him to demonstrate the gospel's inherent worth and freely given nature, setting him apart from mercenary teachers. This particular "glorying" was his unique "trophy" that enhanced the credibility of the message.
- "void" (κενώσει, kenōsei): From κενόω (kenoo), meaning to empty, make void, nullify, or deprive of effect/power. If Paul were to accept payment, it would, in his eyes, "empty" or "nullify" the unique power and effectiveness of his gospel ministry as freely delivered. It would strip away the distinction that allowed his message to stand as pure and untainted by accusation of greed.
- "than that any man should make...void" (ἢ τὸ καύχημά μου οὐδεὶς κενώσει, ē to kauchēma mou oudeis kenōsei):
1 Corinthians 9 15 Bonus section
- Paul's act of refusing support was a powerful polemic against the itinerant sophists and philosophers in Greco-Roman society who charged significant fees for their wisdom. By offering the gospel freely, Paul affirmed its divine, inestimable value and differentiated his message from mere human rhetoric.
- The phrase "make my glorying void" emphasizes that Paul considered this specific, uncompensated method of preaching to be a unique spiritual privilege and joy. It wasn't merely a tactic but a deeply held conviction and source of spiritual satisfaction that elevated his ministry.
- This passage highlights the tension between a minister's legitimate rights and the strategic, self-sacrificial actions sometimes necessary for the unhindered proclamation of the gospel. Paul illustrates that not all rights must always be exercised if doing so hinders the message.
- Paul's example sets a very high bar for ministerial ethics, showing that purity of motive and the effectiveness of the message should be the paramount concerns, even above personal comfort or lawful gain.
1 Corinthians 9 15 Commentary
1 Corinthians 9:15 presents Paul's personal stance on ministry finances, rooted in his overriding commitment to the gospel. Despite having a clear, biblically supported right to receive financial support (as affirmed by Old Testament law, Jesus' teaching, and the practice of other apostles), Paul made the radical choice to forgo this right for the Corinthians' sake. This decision was not an indictment of those who accepted support but a strategic, personal sacrifice aimed at removing any potential impediment or suspicion regarding his motives or the gospel's authenticity. His profound statement, preferring death to the invalidation of his "glorying," underscores the extraordinary value he placed on his unique position as a preacher who offered the gospel without charge. This was his distinguishing characteristic, his "boast" that his preaching was driven by selfless love, not material gain. It allowed him to commend the gospel as a free gift, thereby enhancing its appeal and preventing it from being confused with commercial ventures or philosophies of his time. This verse challenges believers and ministers to prioritize the effective spread of the gospel above personal entitlements, even legitimate ones, exhibiting true sacrificial leadership.