Administration Commission Committed Discharging Dispensation Entrusted Gladly Gospel Intrusted Nevertheless Orders Preach Receive Reward Simply Stewardship Trust Unwillingly Voluntarily Wages Willing Willingly
9:17 If I do this thing willingly. If he preached voluntarily, he might then claim an earthly reward.
But if against my will. If Paul does this as a servant of Christ upon whom the service is laid; then he has
a dispensation [of the gospel] committed to him. A stewardship, as in the Revised Version. In that case he has the obligations of a steward. It is his duty to feed the Master's servants.
9:17 Willingly - He seems to mean, without receiving anything. St. Paul here speaks in a manner peculiar to himself. Another might have preached willingly, and yet have received a maintenance from the Corinthians. But if he had received anything from them, he would have termed it preaching unwillingly. And so, in the next verse , another might have used that power without abusing it. But his own using it at all, he would have termed abusing it. A dispensation is intrusted to me - Therefore I dare not refrain.
9:15-23 It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, and against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must not allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.
Administration Commission Committed Discharging Dispensation Entrusted Gladly Gospel Intrusted Nevertheless Orders Preach Receive Reward Simply Stewardship Trust Voluntarily Wages Willing Willingly
Administration Commission Committed Discharging Dispensation Entrusted Gladly Gospel Intrusted Nevertheless Orders Preach Receive Reward Simply Stewardship Trust Voluntarily Wages Willing Willingly
