1 Corinthians 9:18, Make the Gospel of Christ Without Charge

1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

The Apostle Paul has, for the sake of the gospel, chosen to trust God for support instead of receiving support from the Corinthian church. He did not want to be misunderstood that he was preaching the gospel for any carnal material gain. Nothing of that sort. He was fulfilling a gospel debt he owed for the Christ who saved him.

Zodhiates explained well, “His dedication to the Lord could not be bought… He considered the preaching of the gospel such a high calling that no one could adequately compensate him for it… For the purpose of not misusing his authority in the Gospel, Paul gives the reason why he wants to preach the gospel without charge.”

Zodhiates further summarised well the lessons:

(1) Paul considered the preaching of the gospel such a high calling that it could not be compensated adequately by material means.

(2) His concern was to make the preaching of the gospel without charge, lest the people who heard the gospel thought it was something that could have been compensated.

(3) He did not want to give a single offense in the exercise of his apostolic privilege.

Amen.