1 Corinthians 9:15

13 Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

14 In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

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.

16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
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.
ASV
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 glorifying void.
DARBY
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.
BLB
But I have not used [any] of these. And neither did I write these things so that it should be thus with me; for [it is] good for me rather to die than that anyone will make void my boasting.
ÅB
Men jeg har ikke gjort bruk av noe av dette. Jeg skriver ikke dette for at det skal bli så med meg; for heller vil jeg dø enn at noen skulle gjøre det til intet som jeg roser meg av.
OTB
Men jeg har ikke brukt noen av disse rettighetene, og jeg skriver ikke dette for at det skal gjøres slik i mitt tilfelle; for det ville være bedre for meg å dø enn at noen skulle gjøre min ros tom.
B1930
Men jeg har ikke gjort bruk av noget av dette. Jeg skriver ikke dette forat det skal bli så med mig; for heller vil jeg dø enn at nogen skulde gjøre det til intet som jeg roser mig av.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:9

    Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

    Read in context
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:8

    nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 9:12

    If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:9–12

    And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

    Read in context
  • Acts 20:34

    You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.

    Read in context
  • Acts 18:3

    and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

    Read in context
  • Acts 20:24

    But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

    Read in context
  • Philippians 1:20–23

    I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

    Read in context