The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 9:15 Explained

1 Corinthians 9:15

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.

YLT: 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: 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.

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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Corinthians 9:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul had this right, but he chose not to use it. He did not want his readers to interpret what he had said on this subject as a veiled request for support. He had made his decision to support himself while he preached freely; the Lord did not require this of him. Consequently he could take justifiable pride in it, as anyone who makes a sacrifice for the welfare of others can.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 9:1-15 - Rights And Their Surrender
Paul's claim to an equality with Peter and the other Apostles was violently disputed by his enemies at Corinth, because in several matters he differed from them. Unlike Peter, he had no wife to support, and he worked for his livelihood, instead of being supported by the churches. In this chapter he strongly asserts his rights in this particular; but he is equally strong in saying that he had refused to avail himself of his right, that he might influence a wider circle of men. He was a soldier, a vineyard-keeper, a shepherd, and could claim his maintenance. But he desired to be free from the slightest imputation of self-seeking. He knew that jealous critics were watching his every action and seeking to weigh his secret motives. These were the very men he desired to win, and for their sakes he voluntarily surrendered his undoubted rights.
What a lesson for all of us and especially for those who are called to be ministers of Christ's gospel! We must be above suspicion. If we do or permit anything that might prove a hindrance to the acceptance of Christ by others, we must forego it, though reasonable in itself, that we may win them to our Savior. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 9

1  He shows his liberty;
7  and that the minister ought to receive a living by the Gospel;
15  yet that himself has of his own accord abstained,
18  to be neither chargeable unto them,
22  nor offensive unto any, in matters indifferent
24  Our life is like unto a race

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 9:15

For it were good for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void [καλον γαρ μοι μαλλον αποτανειν η το καυχημα μου ουδεις κενωσει]
The tangled syntax of this sentence reflects the intensity of Paul‘s feeling on the subject. He repeats his refusal to use his privileges and rights to a salary by use of the present perfect middle indicative By the epistolary aorist Then he gives his reason in vigorous language without a copula (ην — ēn were): “For good for me to die rather than,” but here he changes the construction by a violent anacoluthon. Instead of another infinitive (κενωσαι — kenōsai) after η — ē (than) he changes to the future indicative without οτι — hoti or ινα — hina “No one shall make my glorying void,” viz., his independence of help from them. Κενοω — Kenoō is an old verb, from κενος — kenos empty, only in Paul in N.T. See note on 1 Corinthians 1:17. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 9:15

2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again []
Rev., are we beginning. As if anticipating, the taunt so often repeated, that he had no commendatory letters, and therefore was forced to commend himself by self-laudation and by dishonest means. See 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 10:12. You will say, “You are beginning again the old strain of self-commendation as in the first epistle.” See 1Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 9:15-21. [source]
Galatians 6:4 Rejoicing [τὸ καύχημα]
Better, as giving the force of the article, “his glorying.” Καύχημα is the matter or ground of glorying, see Romans 4:2; 1 Corinthians 9:15; not the act ( καύχησις ), as Romans 3:27; 2 Corinthians 1:12. [source]
1 Peter 5:12 As I account him [ως λογιζομαι]
Peter uses Paul‘s phrase (1 Corinthians 4:1; Romans 8:18) in giving approval to Paul‘s former companion (Acts 15:40).I have written (εγραπσα — egrapsa). Epistolary aorist applying to this Epistle as in 1 Corinthians 5:11 (not 1 Corinthians 5:9); 1 Corinthians 9:15; Galatians 6:11; Romans 15:15; Philemon 1:19, Philemon 1:21.Briefly “By few words,” as Peter looked at it, certainly not a long letter in fact. Cf. Hebrews 13:22.Testifying (επιμαρτυρων — epimarturōn). Present active participle of επιμαρτυρεω — epimartureō to bear witness to, old compound, here alone in N.T., though the double compound συνεπιμαρτυρεω — sunepimartureō in Hebrews 2:4.That this is the true grace of God Infinitive ειναι — einai in indirect assertion and accusative of general reference “In which (grace) take your stand” (ingressive aorist active imperative of ιστημι — histēmi). [source]
1 Peter 5:12 I have written [εγραπσα]
Epistolary aorist applying to this Epistle as in 1 Corinthians 5:11 (not 1 Corinthians 5:9); 1 Corinthians 9:15; Galatians 6:11; Romans 15:15; Philemon 1:19, Philemon 1:21. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 9:15 mean?

I however not have used none of these Neither have I written now these things that thus it should be with me [it were] good for me rather to die than the boasting of me anyone will make void
ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ κέχρημαι οὐδενὶ τούτων οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν τὸ καύχημά μου οὐδεὶς κενώσει

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
κέχρημαι  have  used 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: χράομαι  
Sense: to receive a loan.
οὐδενὶ  none 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
τούτων  of  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
οὐκ  Neither 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
ἔγραψα  have  I  written 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
οὕτως  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
γένηται  it  should  be 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ἐμοί  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
καλὸν  [it  were]  good 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: καλός  
Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
μοι  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
μᾶλλον  rather 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μᾶλλον  
Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather.
ἀποθανεῖν  to  die 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
  than 
Parse: Conjunction
Root:  
Sense: either, or, than.
καύχημά  boasting 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: καύχημα  
Sense: that of which one glories or can glory, matter or ground of glorying.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
οὐδεὶς  anyone 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
κενώσει  will  make  void 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κενόω  
Sense: to empty, make empty.