The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 288

Ver. 14.-He.th the Lord ordained (Molt. had done merely what it was his b:1re duty x. 10; Luke x. 7). Tbo reference lms special to do (Luke xvii. 10). There is no merit in interest, because it shows that St. Paul was yielding to a must. nt least orally fo.milior with the discourses Ver. 18.-What is my reward thenl The of Christ. Indeed, there is nothing im- nnswer is that it was not snch "wages " "" possible or improbable in the supposition would orclino.rily be considered such, but it that some of these were already being was the happiness of preaehing the gospel circulated in manuscript. Should live of without cost to any. I abuse not; rather, the gospel. If, that is, they desired and I use not to the full, as in eh. vii. 31. It may ho9 need to do so. He does not say, "to be said that this was a ground of boasting. livo of the altar," because Christians have not a reward. It was, however, a point to no "altar" except in the metaphorical which St. Paul attached the highest impor- sense in which the cross is called an altar tance (I Thess. ii. 9; 2 Cor. xi. 7-12; Acts in Heb. xiii. 10. xx. 33, 34), and he might therefore speak Vers. 15-23.-Self-denying ordinance of of it, though almost with a touch of bnlf- St.Paul. nnconscious irony, as his "fee." There is Ver. 15.--I have used none of these things. no need to adopt the construction suggester! None of the forms of right which I might by Meyer: "What is my reward? [none] claim from these many sanctions. He is that I may prench gratuitously;" or that of appealing to his own abandonment of o Alford, who fiuds the reward in the next right to encourage them to waive, if need verse. required, the claims of their Christian libel'ty. Ver. 19.-For though I be free; rather. His object in waiving his plain right was though I tca3 free. He has volunta1ily that he might give no handle to any who abandoned this freedom. The true render- might desire to accuse him of interested ing of the verse is, For beina free from all motives (oh. ix. 4; Gal. vi. 6, etc.). Have I men [Go.I. i. 10], I enslaved myself to all. written; rather, do I write; the epistolary In acting thus he obeyed his own principle aorist. That it should be so done unto me. of not abusing his liberty, but" by love serve Do not take my argument as a hint to you ono another" (Gnl. v. 13). that you have neglected your duty of Ver. 20.-Unto the Jews I became e.s a maintaining me, and hove even seen me Jew. When, for instnncc, he cil'cumcisc,l suffer without offering me your assistance. Timothy (Acts xii. 3) an,l .probe1bly Titus Better for me to die. Not" to dio of hunger," also (Gal. ii. 3; see 'Life of St. Paul,' as Chrysostom supposes, but generally, i. 412, sqq.); nncl he was continuing this "I should prefer death to the loss of my principle of nction when he took the vow independence of attitude towards my of the NnzrLrito (Acts xxi. 21-2G), nnd converts." Than that any man should make called himself " 11 Pharisee, 11 son of my glorying void. The Greek is remarkable. Phnrise~s" (Acts xxiii. 6). To them that Litcrnlly it is, than my ground of boa~ting- are under the Law. That is, not only to that any one should render it void. Another Jews, but even to tho most rigorous legrL!isls rooding is, better for me to die than-no one amoug the Jews. It should be carefully shall render void my g,·ound of boasting. observed thnt St. Pnul is here describing Ver. 16.-I have nothing to glory of. He the iunocent concessions and compliances is desirous to remove all oppearance of which nriso from the harmless and generous haughtiness from his tone. 'l'here was, condescension of II loviug spirit. Ho never he snys, no merit involved in his preaching srLnk into iho four of wan, which modo Peter the gospel. He did so from the seuse of 1it Autioch uufaithful to his real principles. overwhelming moro.l compulsion, und he He did not all,)w weu to form from his would lrnve been miserable if ho hnd tried conduct nuy wistokcn infet'euco as to his to resist it. Neoessity is le.id upon me. essential views. Ho waived his personal " We cnnuot but spenk" (Acts iv. 20). predilections iu mutters of indiffcrenco Ver. 17.-If I do this thing willingly. which only nffected "the iufiuitely littlo." The word rather me1ms "spontnneously," Ver. 21.-To them that aro without law, "without compulsion." He wns prenching as without law. In other words, I so for willingly, but still it wns in obedieuce to became to the henthou as II heathcu (Rom. an irresistible behest (Acts ix. 6, 15). I ii. 12), thut I never wilfully insultod their have a reward. The rewo.rcl (or rather, beliefs (Acts xix. 37) nor shocked their ''wage") of such self-chosen work would be prejudices, but on thocontmry,judgcd them the power to fulfil it (comp. Matt. vi. 1). with perfect forbenmnce (Acts xvii. 30) and Against my will; ro.ther, invofontarily, trcnted them with iuvuriuble courtesy. St. " under Divine constraint." A dispensation. Paul tl'icd to look at every subject, so far He "'RB nppointed 11 "steward" or "dispenser" as he could do so innocentlv, from their of the gospel, nnd could only regard hiwself poiut of view (Acls xvii.). Ho clofencled d the best as "an unprofitable slnve," who thoir gospel liberty, nml had iutcrcourrn I. CORINTlllAN8. V  '.:':10 TIIE FmST EPISTLE TO THE COnINTIHANS. [cu. 1x. 1-27.