1 Corinthians 9:15

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

But I have not availed myself of any of these rights. And I am not writing this so that it would be done in my case, for I would rather die than have anyone make my boast [i.e., of preaching without financial support] an empty one.

Cross References

1 Thessalonians 2:9

For you brothers remember how we labored and toiled, working hard night and day, so that we would not burden any of you [while] we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.

2 Thessalonians 3:8

neither did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. But by hard labor and toil, we worked night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you.

1 Corinthians 9:12

If other people have the right to receive a share of what you have, should we not have even more [right to it]? Yet we did not make use of this right, but instead we put up with whatever we had to so we would not become a hindrance to [the spread of] the good news [about Christ].

Acts 20:34

You [also] know that I worked with my own hands to provide not only my own needs, but the needs of those who were with me.

Acts 20:24

But I do not consider my life to be of value, as precious to me, [when compared to the importance of] accomplishing my task and the mission I received from the Lord Jesus to declare the good news of God’s unearned favor [through Christ].

Acts 18:3

and, because they followed the same trade of tent making, he stayed with them and went to work [for them].

1 Corinthians 4:12

we work hard with our hands. [Though] we are cursed, we [ask God’s] blessing [on people]; [though] we are persecuted, we persevere;

Acts 8:3

But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone’s house and dragging men and women off to jail.

Matthew 18:6

But that person who causes one of these little ones [i.e., humble followers of the Lord] who believes in me to be led astray [from God], he would have been better off to have had a huge millstone tied around his neck and been dumped into a deep ocean [Note: This “millstone” was a heavy circular stone rolled over grain to crush it and was moved by an animal walking in a circle].

Acts 20:33

[You know that] I had no greedy desire for anyone’s silver, gold or clothing.

1 Corinthians 9:18

Then what is my reward? It is being able to preach the good news without receiving financial support [for it], so as not to claim my full rights in [the work of preaching] the good news.