SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:15
¶ Mas yo de nada de esto me aprovech; ni tampoco he escrito esto para que se haga así conmigo; porque tengo por mejor morir, antes que nadie haga vana sta mi gloria.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:15
Verse 15. Neither have I written, &c.] 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. But I have used none of these things , etc.] Either none of these arguments or reasons, for a ministers maintenance, taken from the reason of things, the law of Moses, the examples of the priests and Levites, and the order and appointment of Christ, in favour of himself, and that he might be provided for by them accordingly; or none of the things he had a right to do as other apostles, as to eat and drink at the public expense, to lead about with him a sister, a wife, had he any, and to forbear working with his own hands: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me ; it was not on his own account that he gave these strong reasons, urged these instances, and so undeniably proved this point, that ministers should be maintained by the people; and this he says to prevent what some might be ready enough to suggest, that though the apostle had as yet took nothing of the church at Corinth, it was plain, that for the time to come, he meant to do it; and therefore had written these things with such a view, to make way for his after supply from them. This he denies, and gives his reason for it, for it were better for me to die ; through want, with famine, could he be supplied no other way, than to take the least farthing of them: or than that any man should make my glorying void ; meaning not so much his inward pleasure, joy, and satisfaction in preaching the Gospel freely, it being more blessed to give than to receive; but his boasting or glorying, not before God, but against the false apostles; that he had never taken anything of the church at Corinth for preaching, nor never would, when they had insinuated he preached for gain, and by artful methods had got their money, and drained their purses.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-23 - It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Chris and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke take off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the stud and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did no stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, an against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must no allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.
Greek Textus Receptus
εγω 1473 P-1NS δε 1161 CONJ ουδενι 3762 A-DSN εχρησαμην 5530 5662 V-ADI-1S τουτων 5130 D-GPN ουκ 3756 PRT-N εγραψα 1125 5656 V-AAI-1S δε 1161 CONJ ταυτα 5023 D-APN ινα 2443 CONJ ουτως 3779 ADV γενηται 1096 5638 V-2ADS-3S εν 1722 PREP εμοι 1698 P-1DS καλον 2570 A-NSN γαρ 1063 CONJ μοι 3427 P-1DS μαλλον 3123 ADV αποθανειν 599 5629 V-2AAN η 2228 PRT το 3588 T-ASN καυχημα 2745 N-ASN μου 3450 P-1GS ινα 2443 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM κενωση 2758 5661 V-AAS-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:15 {For it were good for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void} (kalon gar moi mallon apoqanein e to kaucema mou oudeis kenwsei). The tangled syntax of this sentence reflects the intensity of Paul's feeling on the subject. He repeats his refusal to use his privileges and rights to a salary by use of the present perfect middle indicative (kecremai). By the epistolary aorist (egraya) he explains that he is not now hinting for a change on their part towards him in the matter, "in my case" (en emoi). qen he gives his reason in vigorous language without a copula (en, were): "For good for me to die rather than," but here he changes the construction by a violent anacoluthon. Instead of another infinitive (kenwsai) after e (than) he changes to the future indicative without hoti or hina, "No one shall make my glorying void," viz., his independence of help from them. kenow is an old verb, from kenos, empty, only in Paul in N.T. See on 1Co 1:17.
