Bible Commentaries

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

1 Corinthians 9

Verse 1

not. First two and fourth occurance. App-105.

apostle. App-189. The texts transpose the first two questions.

not. Third occurance. App-105.

seen. App-133.

Jesus Christ = Jesus. App-98.

Lord. App-98.

Lord. App-98.


Verse 2

unto = to.

others. App-124.

doubtless = at least. seal. Greek. sphragis.

apostleship. Greek. apostole. See Acts 1:25.


Verse 3

answer = defence. Greek. apologia. See Acts 22:1.

examine. App-122.


Verse 4

not. Greek. me ou. The me stands for the question.

power = authority, or right. Greek. exousia. App-172.

to eat, &c. i.e. at the expense of the assembly.


Verse 5

a sister a wife. i.e. a wife who is a believer, and so entitled to be provided for, as well as her husband.

other = the rest of the. App-124.

brethren. See App-182.


Verse 6

Barnabas. It would appear then that Barnabas adopted the same method as Paul, of working for his living.

to forbear working = of not (Greek. me) working.


Verse 7

goeth a warfare = serves as a soldier. Greek. strateuomai. Occ elsewhere, Luke 3:14 (which see). 2 Corinthians 10:3. 1 Timothy 1:18. 2 Timothy 2:4. James 4:1. 1 Peter 2:11.

charges. Greek. opsonion. Literally soldier's rations. Occurs elsewhere and translated "wages", Luke 3:14. Romans 6:23. 2 Corinthians 11:8.

vineyard. The only reference to a vineyard in N.T., besides our Lord's three parables.

of. App-104.


Verse 8

Say I, &c. The question is introduced by me (1 Corinthians 9:4), and there is an Ellipsis of "only".

as-according to. Greek. kata. App-104.

man. Greek. anthropos (App-123.), i.e. according to the universal practice of men.

the same also = also these things.


Verse 9

is = has been.

Moses. Occurs twice in this Epistle, here and 1 Corinthians 10:2. Compare Matthew 8:4.

muzzle. Greek. phimoo. See Luke 4:38 (hold . . . peace).

treadeth out the corn = thresheth. Greek. aloao. Only here, 1 Corinthians 9:10 and 1 Timothy 5:18, where the same quotation from Deuteronomy 25:4 is found.

Doth, &c. The question begins with me, as in 1 Corinthians 9:8, nnd expects the answer "No". But He does care. See Job 38:41. Matthew 6:26; Matthew 10:29. So there is an Ellipsis of the word "only" after "oxen". Compare 1 Corinthians 9:8.

God. App-98.


Verse 10

for our sakes = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104. 1 Corinthians 9:2) us.

is = was.

ploweth. Greek. arotriao. Only here and Luke 17:7.

should = ought to.

in = upon. App-104.

thresheth. See 1 Corinthians 9:9.

should be, &c. The texts read "(should do so) upon the hope of partaking (of the fruit). "

be partaker = share. Greek. metecho. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 Corinthians 10:30. Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 5:13; Hebrews 7:13.


Verse 11

spiritual things = the spiritual (things). Greek. pneumatikos. See 1 Corinthians 12:1.

carnal. Greek. sarkikos. See Romans 7:14.


Verse 12

have not used = did not use. Greek. chraomai. See Acts 27:3.

suffer = bear. Greek. stego, to cover. Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 13:7. 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:5 (forbear).

lest, &c. = in order that (Greek. hina) we might not (Greek. me. App-105).

hinder. Literally give any hindrance. Greek. engkope. Only here. Compare Acts 24:4.

gospel. App-140.

Christ = the Christ. App-98.


Verse 13

Do ye not know = Know ye not. See 1 Corinthians 3:16.

know. App-132.

minister. Same word as "work" 1 Corinthians 9:6.

holy things. Greek. hieros. Only here and 2 Timothy 3:15.

live = eat. See Deuteronomy 18:1.

temple. Greek. hieron, neut. of hieros. The temple generally. See Matthew 23:16.

wait. Greek. prosedreuo. Only here, but the texts read paredreuo, same meaning.

are partakers = divide. Greek. summerizomai. Only here.


Verse 14

Even so, &c. = So did the Lord also ordain.

ordained. Greek. diatasso. See Acts 7:44.

preach. App-121.


Verse 15

neither have I written = and I wrote not (Greek. ou).

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

unto = in (App-104.), i.e. in my case.

better, &c. = well for me to die, rather.

any man. Greek. tis. App-123. The texts read oudeis.

make . . . void. Greek. kenoo. See Philippians 1:2, Philippians 1:7.

glorying = boasting, as in 1 Corinthians 5:6.


Verse 16

though = if. App-118.

preach the gospel. App-121.

nothing to glory of = no (Greek. ou) (cause of) boasting (as in 1 Corinthians 9:15).

necessity. Gr. ananke. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:37.

is laid = lies. Greek. epikeimai. See Acts 27:20.

yea. The texts read "for".

if. App-118.


Verse 17

do = practise. Greek. prasso. See John 3:20.

willingly = being willing. Greek. hekon. Only here and Romans 8:20.

against my will = being unwilling. Greek. akon. Only here.

a dispensation, &c, = I have been entrusted with (Greek. pisteuo. App-150.) a stewardship. I am therefore in duty bound to fulfill it.

dispensation = stewardship, or administration, the work of an oikonomoa (1 Corinthians 4:1). Elsewhere, Luke 16:2, Luke 16:3, Luke 16:4. Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2. Colossians 1:25. 1 Timothy 1:4.

is committed. App-150.


Verse 18

of Christ. The texts omit.

without charge = without cost or expense. Greek. adapanos. Only here. Compare dapane, cost (Luke 14:28), and dapanao, spend (Luke 15:14).

that, &c. Literally unto (Greek. eis) my not abusing.

abuse = use to the full. See 1 Corinthians 7:31.


Verse 19

all =

all things, i.e. restrictions of meats, &c.

have. Omit.

made myself servant = enslaved myself. App-190.

gain. Greek. kerdaino. See Acts 27:21.


Verse 20

under. App-104.

the law = law. The texts add, "Not as being myself under law".


Verse 21

without law. Greek. anomos. App-128. Here used in the sense of Romans 2:12, Romans 2:14.

under the law. Greek. ennomos. See Acts 19:39.


Verse 22

made = become.

some. App-124.


Verse 23

might be = may become.

partaker. Greek. sunkoinonos. See Romans 11:17.

you = it, i.e. the gospel. Sharer in its triumphs.


Verse 24

race = race-course. Greek. stadion. Elsewhere translated "furlong", the course being usually of this length.

prize. Greek. brabeion. Only here and Philippians 1:3, Philippians 1:14. Compare the verb, Colossians 3:15. (rule).

So. i.e. as these runners do.

obtain = lay hold of. Greek. katalambano. See Acts 4:13.


Verse 25

striveth for the mastery. Greek. agonizomai. See Luke 13:24. The usual term for contending in the games.

is temperate = exercises self-control. Greek. enkrateuomai. See 1 Corinthians 7:9. This refers to the severe training, extending over many months, before the contest.

to obtain = in order that (Greek. hina) they may receive, Same word as "receive" in 1 Corinthians 9:24.

corruptible. Greek. phthartos. See Romans 1:23.

crown. Greek. stephanos. See first occurance: Matthew 27:29. The crown was a chaplet of wild olive, parsley, &c.

incorruptible. Greek. aphthartos. See Romans 1:23. Compare 1 Peter 5:4.


Verse 26

as. "As" should precede "not".

uncertainly. Greek. adelos. Only here. Compare 1 Corinthians 14:8. 1 Timothy 6:17. He runs with clear understanding of the conditions and object. See "one thing", Philippians 1:3, Philippians 1:13.

fight = fight with the fist, box. Greek. pukteuo. Only here. The noun pugme, fist, occ Mark 7:3. In these contests it was more than boxing. Instead of a padded glove the hand was covered with the cestus, which consisted of leather bands, studded with pieces of metal.

as one, &c. Read "as one not beating the air". This was called skiamachia, shadow-fighting.


Verse 27

keep under. Greek. hupopiazo. See Luke 18:5.

bring . . . into subjection = reduce to slavery. Greek. doulagogeo. Only here. Compare App-190.

lest that by any means. Greek. mepos.

when, &c. = having preached. Greek. kerusso. App-121. There is an appropriateness in using here this verb, "to act as a herald". The herald summons the competitors.

be = become, or prove to be.

a castaway = disapproved, or rejected (for the prize). Greek. adokimos. See Romans 1:28.

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