Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? Ver. 1. _Am I not an apostle, &c._] That is to say, Do I require you to do anything more than I myself do daily, in parting with my proper rights? All things in a minister should be exemplary,... [ Continue Reading ]
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Ver. 2. _The seal of mine apostleship_] See the like, Jeremiah 23:21; Matthew 21:27, where our Saviour proveth John Baptist's ministry to be from heaven, by the success.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Ver. 3. _Mine answer to them, &c._] Or, this is mine apology to those that cavil and quarrel my calling, viz. that I have converted you and others; a real proof, a visible demonstration. So 2 Corinthians 13:3,5 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Have we not power to eat and to drink? Ver. 4. _To eat and to drink_] At the Church's charge; so that we do it moderately without excess, as Josiah did, and it went well with him, Jeremiah 22:15 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and _as_ the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Ver. 5. _To lead about a sister_] At the Church's charge likewise. The Papists that deny the lawfulness of ministers' marriage, are condemned and cursed by their own canon law... [ Continue Reading ]
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Ver. 6. _To forbear working_] At our trade? Yes, or else I should easily be of Melancthon's mind, who when one had said of the ministry, that it was the art of arts, and the science of sciences; if he had added (said Melancthon) that it... [ Continue Reading ]
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Ver. 7. _Who goeth a warfare, &c._] Ministers as they should be valiant as soldiers, diligent as husbandmen, vigilant as sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? Ver. 8. _Or saith not the law_] Not of nations only, as 1 Corinthians 9:7, but of God expressly, _Verbis non solum disertis, sed et exertis?_... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Ver. 9. _Doth God take care for oxen?_] He doth, doubtless, John 4:11; he preserveth man and beast; he heareth the young ravens that cry to him only by implicati... [ Continue Reading ]
Or saith he _it_ altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, _this_ is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. Ver. 10. _Should plough in hope_] Of maintaining his life by his labour, which is therefore called "the... [ Continue Reading ]
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, _is it_ a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? Ver. 11. _Is it a great thing, &c._] Do not we give you gold for brass? Cast we not pearls before you? Alexander the Great gave Aristotle for his book _de Natura Animalium, _ 800 talents, which is... [ Continue Reading ]
If others be partakers of _this_ power over you, _are_ not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Ver. 12. _If others be partakers_] If your ordinary pastors, &c., for the false apostles preached gratis (as some gather... [ Continue Reading ]
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live _of the things_ of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Ver. 13. _Live of the things of, &c._] Yea, they lived plentifully and richly, as appears by the liberal gifts of those Levites for Passover O... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Ver. 14. _Even so hath the Lord_] Note that "so," saith one; "that is, as they of old lived at the altar by tithes, so ministers now. How else will men satisfy their consciences in the particular quantity th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _Better for me to die_] To be hunger starved than to do anything to the prejudice of the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! Ver. 16. _I have nothing to glory of_] My glorying is, that I preach it gratis, and thereby stop an open mouth, 2 Corinthians 12:16,18, give them the lie that... [ Continue Reading ]
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation _of the gospel_ is committed unto me. Ver. 17. _I have a reward_] Yet not earned, but of free grace, God crowning his own works in us. He was a proud Papist that said, _Caelum gratis non accipiam, _ I will not... [ Continue Reading ]
What is my reward then? _Verily_ that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. Ver. 18. _What is my reward then?_] My _merces mundi, _ reward of the world, all that I have here. _ That I abuse not_] _i.e._ That I make no in... [ Continue Reading ]
For though I be free from all _men_, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. Ver. 19. _That I may gain the more_] The Greek word for gain signifieth also the joy and delight of the heart in gaining. It signifies also craft or guile, such as is that of the fox; which whe... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; Ver. 20. _And unto the Jews, &c._] Not in conforming to their impieties; but, 1. In the use of things indifferent; 2. In merciful compass... [ Continue Reading ]
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. Ver. 21. _That I might gain them_] A metaphor from merchants, _Qui_ κερδαινοντες ου κοπιωσι, who are never weary of taking money. (Naz.) St Paul ha... [ Continue Reading ]
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all _men_, that I might by all means save some. Ver. 22. _To the weak_] Not pressing upon them the austerities of religion, but condescending and complying with them, as far as I could with a good conscience. _ That... [ Continue Reading ]
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with _you_. Ver. 23. _That I might be partaker_] _i.e._ That I might be saved together with you. For the bell may call men to the Church, though itself never enter. The field may be well sowed with a dirty hand; the well yield ex... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. Ver. 24. _Know ye not_] The apostle argueth from their profane sports, yet approveth them not; as neither doth the Lord patronize usury, Matthew 25:27; injustice, Luke 16:1; thefts, 1 Thessal... [ Continue Reading ]
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they _do it_ to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. Ver. 25. _Is temperate in all things_] These luxurious Corinthians were much addicted to their belly; he calls them therefore to temperance. Ill doth it b... [ Continue Reading ]
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: Ver. 26. _Not as uncertainly_] For, 1. I forget those things that are behind, all worldly things. I set those by. 2. I have _oculum ad metam_ (which was Ludovicus Vives' motto), an eye upon the Mark 3:1,35. I strai... [ Continue Reading ]
But I keep under my body, and bring _it_ into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Ver. 27. _My body_] My body of sin in the whole man, not mine outward man only. If we find the devil practising upon the flesh, the way is not to revile t... [ Continue Reading ]