I Corinthians 9:15 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 9:15 Commentary: Paul's Boast in Preaching Free of Charge
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
In 1 Corinthians 9:15 Paul declares he would rather die than lose his boast of preaching the gospel without charge. What is this boast?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul refuses financial support to preserve his freedom to boast in preaching the gospel without charge, a privilege he values above life.
- Key words: κέχρημαι (kechrēmai, perfect 'have used', action with ongoing result); καύχημα (kauchēma, 'boast', ground of glorying); κενώσει (kenōsei, future 'will make void', deprive of force).
- Main debate: Whether Paul's boast is about his own accomplishment or about preserving the gospel from reproach; most commentators see it as a holy joy in faithful stewardship.
- Theological theme: Apostolic self-denial for the gospel's advance; the renunciation of legitimate rights for the sake of others' salvation.
- Best use: Teaching on ministry motives, the relationship between money and preaching, and the freedom of those who serve for Christ.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for it is good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But I have used none of these things. Now I have not written these things that it should be thus in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die than that any one should make vain my boast.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But I have used none of these things. Neither have I written these things, that they should be so done unto me: for it is good for me to die rather than that any man should make my glory void.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas yo de nada de esto me aproveché: ni tampoco he escrito esto para que se haga así conmigo|strong="G1722, G1698"; porque tengo por mejor morir, antes que nadie haga vana esta mi gloria.
Porém eu de nenhuma destas coisas usei; e nem isto escrevi, para que assim se faça comigo; porque melhor me seria morrer, do que esvaecer este meu orgulho.
Pour moi, je n’ ai usé d’ aucun de ces droits, et ce n’ est pas afin de les réclamer en ma faveur que j’ écris ainsi; car j’aimerais mieux mourir que de me laisser enlever ce sujet de gloire.
Ich aber habe der keines gebraucht. Ich schreibe auch nicht darum davon, daß es mit mir also sollte gehalten werden. Es wäre mir lieber, ich stürbe, denn daß mir jemand meinen Ruhm sollte zunichte machen.
Maar ik heb geen van deze dingen gebruikt. En ik heb dit niet geschreven, opdat het alzo aan mij geschieden zou; want het ware mij beter te sterven, dan dat iemand dezen mijn roem zou ijdel maken.
Io però non ho fatto uso d’alcuno di questi diritti, e non ho scritto questo perché si faccia così a mio riguardo; poiché preferirei morire, anziché veder qualcuno render vano il mio vanto.
Alem ja nic z tych rzeczy nie używał. I nie pisałem tego, aby się tak przy mnie działo; bo mnie daleko lepiej umrzeć, niżby kto przechwalanie moje miał próżnem uczynić.
Но я не пользовался ничем таковым. И написал это не для того, чтобы так было для меня. Ибо для меня лучше умереть, нежели чтобы кто уничтожил похвалу мою.
但 這權柄 我 全沒 有用過。我寫 這話，並 非 要 你們這樣 待 我，因為 我 寧可 死 也 不叫人 使我 所誇 的落了空。
But I have not made use of any of these things: and I am not writing this in the hope that it may be so for me: for it would be better for me to undergo death, than for any man to make this pride of mine of no effect.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 9:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Paul's statement in this verse clarifies both his past practice and his present intention. Barnes notes that 'I have used none of these things' refers to Paul's refusal to claim apostolic rights for material support (1 Cor 9:4-6). The phrase 'neither have I written these things' is explained by Calvin as a denial that Paul intended to change his policy toward the Corinthians. Gill emphasizes the Greek: κέχρημαι (kechrēmai) is perfect tense, Paul has not made use of these rights up to the present, with ongoing effect. The boast (καύχημα, kauchēma) is the ground of Paul's joy: preaching the gospel without charge (1 Cor 9:18). Clarke underscores that Paul would rather die than let anyone nullify this boast, because his free ministry guards the gospel's reputation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul voluntarily surrendered his right to financial support and treasured this sacrifice as a source of holy boasting, preferring death over losing that privilege.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Paul's refusal of support | Paul voluntarily gave up his apostolic right to financial maintenance (1 Cor 9:4-6, 12). | Whether this refusal is normative for all ministers. Some see it as a situational choice for Paul's context; others view it as a principle of sacrificial freedom that can be applied differently today. |
| The nature of the boast (καύχημα) | The boast is Paul's joy in preaching the gospel without charge (v.18), not empty pride. | Some focus on Paul's personal triumph over false accusers (Gill, Barnes), while others emphasize that the boast protects the gospel's authority and prevents scandal (Calvin, Clarke). Both affirm it serves the gospel. |
| Willingness to die | Paul prefers death over allowing his boast to be nullified, showing its supreme value. | Whether this is literal hyperbole expressing deep conviction (most take it as serious) or a rhetorical flourish. The surrounding context (v.16-18) suggests it is a genuine statement of priority, not rhetorical exaggeration. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes this passage in the midst of defending his apostolic authority and offering himself as a model of self-denial (1 Cor 9:1-23). He has just argued that ministers deserve support from those they serve (v.13-14), but he immediately insists he has not claimed that right among the Corinthians. The background includes Paul's tentmaking trade in Corinth (Acts 18:3) and his earlier decision to support himself so as not to burden the church (Acts 20:34,
). In the Greco-Roman world, teachers and philosophers often received patronage or fees, but Paul deliberately sets aside this custom. The Corinthian church had experienced tensions around money and status; false apostles had accused Paul of greed (2 Cor 11:7-9). By refusing support, Paul silences critics and removes any hindrance to the gospel (1 Cor 9:12). His boast is not personal pride but the privilege of preaching without cost to his hearers, preserving the gospel from the suspicion of mercenary motives. The intensity of his statement, preferring death over losing this boast, shows how vital this principle is for his ministry and for the credibility of his message."You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me."
— Acts 20:34 (WEB)
Textual Notes
The Cambridge Bible notes one variant in Greek word order: some manuscripts read 'It were better for me to die than my ground of boasting, no one shall make it void.' This creates an anacoluthon (an unfinished sentence) that most editors reject in favor of the reading followed by the WEB. The accepted text is well-attested and carries no significant alternative. No other textual variants are discussed by the supplied commentators.
Reception History
Throughout church history, 1 Corinthians 9:15 has been cited in discussions of pastoral support and ministerial self-denial. Early church figures like Chrysostom praised Paul's freedom from covetousness. In the medieval period, the verse was used to support mendicant orders who lived by preaching without fixed income. Reformed theologians (Calvin, the Geneva Bible) emphasized Paul's motive of guarding the gospel's honor. Wesley's and Clarke's Methodist tradition saw here a call to voluntary poverty for the sake of effective ministry. Modern readers continue to wrestle with the tension between a minister's right to support and the flexibility needed to adapt to different cultural contexts.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Paul's consistent self-denial: He has used none of the rights he could claim (vv.4-6,12), and he writes not to change his practice but to explain his principle.
- The nature of his boast: His glorying (καύχημα, kauchēma) is the privilege of presenting the gospel without charge (v.18). It is not self-righteousness but a holy freedom secured by sacrifice.
- His valuation above life: Paul would rather die than let anyone nullify this boast, because it protects the gospel's integrity and his apostolic witness.
Five-point outline
- Paul's right established: He had clear authority to receive support (vv.7-14).
- His decision to waive it: He never used that right at Corinth (v.12, v.15a).
- His intention clarified: He does not write now to request support (v.15b).
- His boast defined: The joy of preaching free of charge (v.18).
- His ultimate price: Death preferred over losing this boast (v.15c).
Illustration hooks
- A tradesperson who declines payment from a neighbor in need, not out of pride but to preserve a friendship and avoid any appearance of exploiting the relationship.
- A congregation that insists on providing for their pastor's needs, only to discover the pastor chooses to work a second job so the gospel is never seen as a commodity.
- The tension parents feel when they forgo a career opportunity to invest time in their children, counting the relational gain worth more than income.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does Paul call his sacrifice a 'boast'? Won't that sound like pride?
- If Paul had the right to support, why did he give it up? Should all ministers do the same?
- What does it mean to 'make void' someone's glorying? How can my actions harm another believer's faithful witness?
Leading a Discussion
Paul's willingness to die rather than lose his boast challenges our assumptions about rights, sacrifice, and what we truly value. This passage invites us to examine what we cling to and whether we would surrender even life itself for the sake of the gospel's advance. Work through the questions below, letting the group reflect on Paul's example without pressure to imitate every detail.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What rights does Paul list earlier in the chapter (vv.4-6, 12) that he has 'used none of'?
- Interpretation: In what sense is Paul's free preaching a 'boast' (καύχημα)? Look at v.18 and 2 Cor 11:7-10. Is it confidence in himself or something else?
- Interpretation: Why does Paul say he would rather die than let anyone nullify this boast? What is at stake for the gospel (see also 1 Cor 9:12)?
- Application: What 'rights' do you hold that might need to be surrendered for the sake of others' faith or the gospel's reputation?
- Application: Can you think of a time when you chose to forgo a legitimate benefit for a higher purpose? What helped you make that decision?
- Application: How can this passage shape the way your church thinks about finances, ministry, and the dangers of tying the gospel to money?
- Closing reflection: Paul valued his boast above his own life. What one thing do you treasure most in your walk with Christ? How does that compare with Paul's priority?
Lord Jesus, You gave up everything for us. Teach us to see what privileges we can lay down for the sake of Your gospel. Let our joy come not from having rights but from seeing Your name honored. Amen.
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 18:6 | but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea. |
| Acts 8:3 | But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. |
| Acts 18:3 | and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. |
| Acts 20:24 | But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God. |
| Acts 20:34 | You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. |
| I Corinthians 4:12 | We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. |
| I Corinthians 9:12 | If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ. |
| II Corinthians 11:9 | When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Neither have I written, etc. - Though I might plead the authority of God in the law, of Christ in the Gospel, the common consent of our own doctors, and the usages of civil society, yet I have not availed myself of my privileges; nor do I now write with the intention to lay in my claims.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Paul's refusal to accept support was not because he doubted his right as an apostle, but because he deliberately chose to forgo that right for the gospel's advantage. Paul valued the benefits of self-denial, especially avoiding any charge of greed, more than life itself.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that Paul’s decision not to use his Christian rights shows he practices the same self‑restraint he teaches to others. The passage also contains a textual difficulty: the Greek order could mean Paul would rather die than let anyone invalidate his grounds for boasting, though the usual reading is preferred.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Paul states he did not use his right to financial support and did not write to suggest he now wants it. He would rather die than let anyone rob him of the joy he has in preaching the gospel without charge.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that Paul wrote these arguments not to secure future support for himself, but to silence false apostles who accused him of preaching for money. Paul would rather starve than let anyone strip him of his rightful boast: that he had never taken a penny from the Corinthians for his ministry.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Paul's unique gift of celibacy and ability to support himself made it right for him to forgo payment, while the same choice would be wrong for a minister with a family. He refused his rights to avoid any suspicion of selfish motives, even preferring death over hindering the gospel.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on Paul's deep personal satisfaction in preaching the gospel without cost to his hearers. Paul calls this his glorying, not as boastfulness but as a profound comfort he would rather die than lose by accepting support from the Corinthians.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley says he would rather die than give those looking for a reason to criticize him any valid excuse. The point is absolute: protecting the gospel from unnecessary scandal matters more than his own life or comfort.