1 Corinthians 9:13-14

After the personal “aside” of 1 Corinthians 9:11 f., Paul returns to his main proof, deriving a further reason for the disputed ἐξουσία from the Temple service. “Do you not know” you men of knowledge (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16) ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν; “that those employed in the sacred offices eat what comes from the sacred place (the Temple)?” “qui sacris operantur, ex sacrario edunt” (Cv [1326]): see the rules ad hoc in Leviticus 6:8 to Leviticus 7:38 and Numbers 18:8-19. For ἐργάζομαι (of business, employment), cf. 1 Corinthians 4:12; Acts 18:3, etc. “Those that are assiduous at the altar,” qui altari assident (Bz [1327]) i.e., the priests engaged in the higher ritual functions are distinguished from other Temple ministers; the position of Paul and his colleagues is analogous to that of these chief dignitaries. παρεδρεύω, to have one's seat beside; cf. εὐπάρεδρον, 1 Corinthians 7:35. P. argues by analogy from the Jewish priest to the Christian minister in respect of the claim to maintenance; we cannot infer from this an identity of function, any more than in the previous comparison with “the threshing ox”. τ. θυσιαστηρίῳ συνμερίζονται, “have their portion with the altar,” i.e., share with it in the sacrifices “altaris esse socios in dividendo victimas” (Bz [1328]); parts of these were consumed in the altar-fire, and parts reserved for the priests (Leviticus 10:12-15). Some refer the first half of 1 Corinthians 9:13 to Gentile and the last to Israelite practice; but “with the Ap., τὸ ἱερὸν is only the sanctuary of the God of Israel, τὸ θυσιαστήριον only the altar on which sacrifice is made to Him” (Hf [1329]): cf. Acts 22:17, etc., and the Gospels passim, as to ἱερόν; 1 Corinthians 10:18, as to θυσιαστήριον; cf. 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, for the use in this Ep. of O.T. analogies. “So also (in accordance with this precedent) did the Lord appoint for those that preach the good tidings to live of the good tidings.” ἐκ τ εὐαγγ in 1 Corinthians 9:14 matches ἐκ τ ἱεροῦ, 1 Corinthians 9:13; τοῖς … καταγγέλλουσιν, τοῖς … ἐργαζομένοις : cf. ἱερουργοῦντα τ. εὐαγγ τ. Θεοῦ, Romans 15:16. For the “ordinance” of “the Lord” (sc. Jesus), see parls.; the allusion speaks for detailed knowledge of the sayings of Jesus, on the part of writer and readers; cf. 1 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Corinthians 11:23 ff., and notes. διατάσσω, act [1330], as in 1Co 7:17, 1 Corinthians 11:34; mid [1331] in 1 Corinthians 16:1. ζῇν ἐκ, of source of livelihood (ex quo quod evangelium prœdicant, Bz [1332]), in cl [1333] Gr [1334] often ζῇν ἀπὸ (see parls.). For καταγγέλλω, see note on 1 Corinthians 2:1

[1326] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

[1327] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[1328] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[1329] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1330] active voice.

[1331] middle voice.

[1332] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[1333] classical.

[1334] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.