* See Stanley’s note on ch. xiii. 7.
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as was the fact, then I am not in the position of a free man who chooses at will, but of a slave who is made household steward by his master’s will, without his own choice, and con- sequently I have no claim for reward and no ground of boast- ing. What, then, is my reward? What ground of boasting have 1? Only this: to make the Gospel without charge. In this I may glory.*
Willingly—against my will (écav—dxwv). These words are not to be explained of the spirit in which Paul fulfilled his ministry ; but of his attitude toward the apostolic charge when it was committed to him. He was seized upon by Christ (Philip. 11. 12) ; constrained by His call on the way to Damas- cus. Rey., of mine own will—not of mine own will.
Reward. Correlative with the second xavynua something to glory of, in ver. 16.
A dispensation is committed unto me (o/kovoulay ter- icrevpa). Lit., J am entrusted with a stewardship. For a similar construction see Rom. iii. 2. Stewards belonged to the. class of slaves. See Luke xii. 42, 43, and note oixovdpos stew- ard in ver. 42, and d00nXos exetvos that bond-servant in ver. 43. Paul is not degrading the gospel ministry to a servile office. He is only using the word to illustrate a single point—the man- ner of his appointment.
18. Abuse (xataypyjcac3ar). See on ch. vii. 31. Rev., correctly, use to the full.
19. Made myself servant (édo0Awoa). Rev., brought my- self under bondage ; better, as bringing out the force of S0dX0s bond-servant, from which the word is derived, and thus accord- ing with stewardship, ver. 17.
Gain (xepdjow). Carrying out the thought of servant in ver. 18. “He refuses payment in money that he may make the greater gain in souls. But the gain is that which a faithful steward makes, not for himself, but for his master” (Edwards).
* A most excellent discussion of this passage may be found in Godet.
934. WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu IX
The word is not, as Godet, to be limited to its purely natural meaning, but is used in the sense of Matt. xviii. 15; 1 Pet. ied:
20. Them that are under the law. The distinction be- tween this class and Jews is differently explained. Some, Jews, viewed nationally ; under the law, viewed religiously. Others, Jews by origin, and Gentile proselytes. Others understand by those wnder the law, rigid Jews, Pharisees. The first explana: tion seems preferable.
21. Without law (dvouos). As one of the Gentiles. By intercourse with them, relinquishment of Jewish observances, and adapting his teaching to their modes of thought. See Acts xvii.
Under law (évvowos). The expression differs from that in ver. 20, t7rd vopov under law, though with only a shade of dif- ference in meaning. “Evvouos means subject to the law, but in the sense of keeping wethin (év) the law.
22. Weak. In faith and christian discernment. Compare ch. vill. 7 sqq.; Rom. xiv. 13 xv. ly 1 Thess. v. 14.
24. In a race (ev cradipm). Or, better, in @ race-course. From torn to place or establish. Hence a stated distance ; a standard of length. In all other New-Testament passages it is used of a measure of length, and is rendered furlong, represent- ing 606% English feet. From the fact that the race-courses were usually of exactly this length, the word was applied to the race-course itself. The position chosen for the stadiwm was usually on the side of a hill, which would furnish a natural slope for seats; a corresponding elevation on the opposite side being formed by a mound of earth, and the seats being sup- ported upon arches. The stadium was oblong in shape, and semicircular at one end; though, after the Roman conquest of Greece, both ends were often made semicircular. A straight wall shut in the area at one end, and here were the entrances and the starting-place for the runners. At the other end was the goal, which, like the starting-point, was marked by a square