1 Corinthians 9:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul insists he has claimed none of these rights and is not writing to secure them now, declaring he would rather die than lose the ground of his rejoicing.
What Does 1 Corinthians 9:15 Mean?
Having established his full right to support, Paul forcefully sets it aside. He has used none of these privileges, and he is not writing to prompt the Corinthians to start providing them. So strongly does he feel this that he would rather die than have anyone empty his boast of its meaning.
His glorying is his joy in preaching Christ freely, without charge, asking nothing for himself. To accept payment now would, in his eyes, rob that joy of its purity. This is not pride but a holy resolve to keep his ministry above suspicion and wholly given. Paul shows that a servant of Christ may treasure the freedom to serve without reward as itself a precious gift, more precious than any material gain.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 9:15
What does 1 Corinthians 9:15 mean?
Paul insists he has claimed none of these rights and is not writing to secure them now, declaring he would rather die than lose the ground of his rejoicing.