1 Corinthians 9:15 Commentary and Bible Study

Paul has not at any time asked for this support to be given to him, though he is quite clear that he has the right to do so. Nor is it the case that in explaining the rights of preachers and teachers, he is giving a strong hint that they ought to start supporting him. ‘I am not trying to change my practice. I am not saying all this so that you feel sorry for me, and everybody immediately proceeds to support me. For it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.’ That is to say, ‘It would be better for me to die, than to lose this ability to say, “I did not do it for money”, to lose this ability to prevent people from slandering and hindering the gospel of Jesus Christ.’ So the apostle says two things at once, ‘Yes, Christian workers should be supported. I am a voluntary exception, and Barnabas, because of our distinctive work and position.’ Of course, he took some, as he mentions when he writes to the Philippians. He thanks them for being the only church that supported him at certain times. So when churches do send offerings, he does receive them, using them no doubt to support his fellow workers, but it is comparatively rare. He never solicits them. He never asks for them. And when he is the pastor in a certain place – as at Corinth or Ephesus – he never takes regular support. The Philippians also helped him when he was in prison, when he couldn’t work, but generally speaking he was unsupported.