12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?
14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
***
V. 12 - “If others share the right over you, do we not more?” - What ‘right’? The right to be supported financially by the Corinthian church. See the discussion for verses 4-11, above. I have this note from a Bible Study on 1 Corinthians (See note 1), “This question of Paul’s support or non-support is related to the larger issue of how the philosophers and wandering missionaries in the the first-century world were supported. There were four traditional sources: fees for service, support by a rich patron, begging, and work (at another job). Paul’s means of support came from the latter, which in his case meant tent-making (4:12).”
He could have claimed he deserved the right to be supported by the Corinthian church. And there is some validity there - Paul had spent a lot of time and effort to share and teach the Gospel to them. Had any other missionary devoted so much to them?
“Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.” - From the same Bible Study, “Were Paul to have accepted financial reward, this might well have been misunderstood by potential converts in Corinth as the main motive for his ministry.” (See note 1.)
V. 13 - “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?” - We know that is true for the priests and Levites of Judaism.
The Jewish priests were to all from the tribe of Levi. That tribe received no allotment in the distribution of the promised land to Israel. That is, the tribe of Levi did not get a section of land for their tribe.n(See Josh. 13-19.) There were some towns and surrounding farm land given to the Levites in each of the other tribal allotments. The Levites were chosen by God to represent Israel in the tabernacle or temple for sacrifices and offerings, so they did not receive tribal land. Also, parts of certain sacrifices and offerings were to be given to the Levite priests for their use and livelihood. The Jewish priests were supported by a temple (or tabernacle) tax and by the bread and meat of some of the offerings and sacrifices. (See Lev. 7, for example).
I do not know the religious practices of the pagan religions in the first century, especially those that took place in one of the temples. I suppose those who worked in a temple received payment from offerings and sacrifices made at the temple.
V. 14 - “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” - Jesus also indicated this, see Matt. 10:10. The apostles, preachers and teachers were supported by the believers from the very beginning. (See: Acts 2:41-47)
V. 15 - “But I have used none of these things.” - Paul has every right to claim and demand support from the Corinthian church based on scripture and local custom. He has not demanded the Corinthian church provide support him.
“it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.” - Paul is bragging (just a little…). What a claim! He would rather be dead than have people be able to say he demanded and accepted money from the church. What a dilemma! Paul and Barnabas were called to spread the gospel - this is their full-time ‘job’ - yet they were not making demands upon the new believers. What a difference from the modern day ‘televangelists’ who overwhelm us with appeals for support for their ‘ministry’. I do not think Paul is exaggerating.
V. 16 - “For I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” - Called by God to spread the gospel. Jesus takes an enemy, reveals Himself to him, and gets an apostle. Paul is ‘driven’ to share the gospel - he can think of doing nothing else with his life. He would be the most unhappy man alive if he did not teach and preach Christ. It is a compulsion; he will go slightly insane if he does not preach.
V. 17 - “For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward” - The money is not the reward! Paul is saying: If you think I do this (preach the gospel) because I want to do it; you are correct. There is a reward for me because I am following my calling. God will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (See: Matt. 5:21, 23; Luke 19:17)
“But if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.” - Paul is also saying: If you think I do this (preach the gospel) because I am forced to do it, that I don’t really want to do it; you are not correct. God has called me to be a missionary. I give myself to Him to use as He pleases. Knowing that He is using me to spread the gospel, means that I know what is required - the stewardship of the gospel. It is not just a job, there is an important responsibility to be faithful to the message God has for the lost.
V. 18 - “I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” - Support for Paul must never be a stumbling block for new or potential believers. Sometimes perceptions can put up mental roadblocks that prevent us from hearing a message. We see this all the time - in politics, in our work, in social settings. Is there a president or congressman (-woman) with whom you disagree? Do you immediately dismiss their statements and claims - simply because they are in the other political party, or you dislike them so much? If a person in your home owners association board gets on your nerves, do you roll your eyes and shake your head whenever they talk? Do you hesitate to talk with a co-worker because you know you will probably disagree with whatever they say?
Paul is saying he does not want support for his ministry to stop the Corinthians from hearing and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. He may deserve support as an apostle-missionary. No one should be ‘turned off’ because of a demand for support. This is an interesting turn-around: he claims he is worthy of support because of his calling; yet he is making no claim for support if such a claim will prevent you from becoming a Christian. Your salvation is more important than any other thing.
***Note 1: “Serendipity Group Bible Study Series”; Serendipity House, Littleton, CO; 1989. ***
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