1: Before he proceedeth any further in his purposed matter of things offered to idols, he would show the cause of all this mischief, and also take it away: to wit, that the Corinthians thought themselves not bound to depart from a jot of their liberty for any man's pleasure. Therefore he propoundeth himself for an example, and that in a matter most necessary. And yet he speaketh severally of both, but first of his own person. If (saith he) you allege for yourselves, that you are free, and therefore will use your liberty, am I not also free, seeing I am an apostle?
2: He proveth his apostleship by the effects, in that he was appointed of Christ himself, and the authority of his function was sufficiently confirmed to him amongst them by their conversion. And all these things he setteth before their eyes, to make them ashamed for that they would not in the least wise that might be, debase themselves for the weak's sake, whereas the apostle himself did all that he could to win them to God, when they were utterly reprobate and without God.
a: By the Lord.
b: As a seal whereby it appeareth sufficiently that God is the author of my apostleship.
3: He addeth this by the way, as if he should say, So far it is off, that you may doubt of my apostleship, that I use to refute them which call it into controversy, by opposing those things which the Lord hath done by me amongst you.
c: Which like judges examine me and my doings.
4: Now touching the matter itself, he saith, Seeing that I am free, and truly an apostle, why may not I (I say not, eat of all things offered to idols,) but be maintained by my labours, yea and keep my wife also, as the residue of the apostles lawfully do, as by name, John and James, the Lord's cousins, and Peter himself?
d: Upon the expense of the Church?
e: One that is a Christian and a true believer?
f: Not live by the works of our hands?
5: That he may not seem to burden the apostles, he showeth that it is just that they do, by an argument of comparison, seeing that soldiers live by their wages, and husbandmen by the fruits of their labours, and shepherds by that that commeth of their flocks.
g: Useth to go to warfare?
6: Secondly, he bringeth forth the authority of God's institution of comparison.
h: Have I no better ground then the common custom of men?
*: Deuteronomy 25:4 1 Timothy 5:18
i: Was it God's proper drift to provide for oxen, when he made this law? for otherwise there is not the smallest thing in the world, but God hath a care of it.
*: Romans 15:27
7: An assumption of the arguments with an amplification, for neither in so doing do we require a reward meet for our deserts.
8: Another argument of great force: other are nourished amongst you, therefore it was lawful for me, yea rather for me then any other: and yet I refused it, and had rather still suffer any discommodity, then the gospel of Christ should be hindered.
j: The word signifieth right and interest, whereby he giveth us to understand that the ministers of the word must of right and duty be found in the Church.
9: Last of all, he bringeth forth the express law concerning the nourishing of the Levites: which privilege notwithstanding he will not use.
*: Deuteronomy 18:1
k: This is spoken by the figure Metanymia, for, those things that are offered in the temple.
l: Are partakers with the altar in dividing the sacrifice.
m: Because they preach the gospel. It followeth by this place, that Paul got no living, neither would have any other man get, by any commodity of masses, or any other such superstitious trumperies.
10: he taketh away occasion of suspicion by the way, that it might not be thought that he wrote this as though he challenged his wages, that was not payed him. Nay, saith he, I had rather die, then not to continue in this purpose to preach the gospel freely. For I am bound to preach the gospel, seeing that the lord that enjoined me in this office: but unless I do it willingly and for the love of God, nothing is to be allowed that I do. If I had rather that the gospel should be evil spoken of, then that I should not require my wages, then would it appear that I took these pains not so much for the gospel's sake, as for my gains and advantages. But I say, this were not to use, but abuse my right and liberty: therefore not only in this thing, but also in the other (as much as I could) I am made all things to all men, that I might win them to Christ, and might together with them be won to Christ.
n: By taking nothing of them to whom I preach it.
*: Acts 16:3 Galatians 2:3
o: The word (law) in this place, must be restrained to the ceremonial law.
p: In matters that are indifferent, which may be done or not done with a good conscience: as if he said, I changed myself into all fashions, that by all means I might save some.
q: That both I and they to whom I preach the gospel, may receive fruit by the gospel.
11: he bringeth in another cause of this mischief, to wit, that they were given to gluttony, for there were solemn banquets of sacrifices, and the riot of the priests was always to much celebrated and kept. Therefore it was hard for them which were accustomed to riotousness, especially when they pretended the liberty of the gospel, to be restrained from these banquets: but contrariwise the apostle calleth them by a pleasant similitude, and also by his own example, to sobriety and mortification of the flesh, showing that they cannot be fit to run or wrestle (as the games of the isthmus were) which pamper up their bodies: and therefore affirming that they can have no reward, unless they take another course and trade of life.
r: Useth a most exquisite diet.
s: The old man which striveth against the Spirit.
t: This word (reproved) is not set as contrary to the word (elect) but as contrary to the word (approved) when we see one by experience not to be such an one as he ought to be.

Chapter 9

1. He declareth, that from the liberty which the Lord gave him, 15. he willingly abstained, 18,22. lest in things indifferent he should offend any. 24. He showeth that our life is like unto a race.

Am 1 I not an apostle? am I not free? 2 have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not a my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto other, yet doubtless I am unto you: for ye are the b seal of mine apostleship in the Lord.
3 3 My defence to them that c examine me, is this,
4 4 Have we not power to d eat and to drink?
5 Or have we not power to lead about a wife being a e sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power f not to work?
7 5 Who g goeth a warfare any time at his own cost? 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?
8 6 Say I these things h according to man? saith not the law the same also?
9 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 i oxen?
10 Either saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should ear in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
11 7 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?
12 8 If others with you be partakers of this j power, are not we rather? nevertheless, we have not used this power, but suffer all things, that we should not hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 9 Do ye not know, that they which minister about the * holy things, eat of the k things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar, are l partakers with the altar?
14 So also hath the lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live m of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: 10 neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my rejoicing vain.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of: for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
17 For if I do it willingly, I have a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward them? verily that when I preach the gospel, I make the gospel of Christ n free, that I abuse not my authority in the gospel.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all men, that I might win the more.
20 And unto the Jews, I become as a Jew, that I may win the Jews: to them that are under the o law, as though I were under the law, that I may win them that are under the law.
21 To them that are without law, as though I were without the law, (when I am not without law as pertaining to God, but am in the law through Christ) that I may win them that are without law:
22 To the weak I become as weak, that I may win the weak: I am made all things to p all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with q you.
24 11 Know ye not, that they which run in a race, run all, yet one receiveth the prize? so run that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that proveth masteries, r abstaineth from all things: and they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we for an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly: so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.
27 But I beat down my s body, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means after that I have preached to other, I myself should be t reproved.