1 Corinthians 9:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here he presents still another excellence. Not to receive is a great thing. But what he wishes to say is much greater. What is it?

I not only did not receive, he says, and not only did not use my right, but I even subjected myself to slavery, and to a varied and universal slavery. Not only in money, but in many different matters, which are much more important than money, I acted in exactly the same way.

I enslaved myself, though I was subject to no one and had no necessity. This is precisely what the expression "being free from all" means. And I did not enslave myself to one person only, but to the whole world. Therefore he adds, "I made myself a slave to all."

He says something still greater. I not only refrained from taking, though I had authority, but being free and subject to no one, without external compulsion, I made myself a servant to all. I did this not for one or two, but for the whole world. It was not to please everyone by flattery, but to gain more believers, for it is impossible to gain all.

For though I was free from all these, I made myself servant to all, that I might gain heirs for the inheritance.

He is free from all, because he did not hand on the Gospel to anyone out of desire to please. He desired nothing for himself except the salvation of those converted, and he did not receive the corrupt for a greater wage through purchased hypocrisy.

And he not only did not use this right, but renounced many other things for the sake of those being converted (1 Cor 9:19-23). “For though I am free from all, I have made myself servant to all, that I might gain the more.” He says he is free from all, not from things, but from people, and that he made himself servant to all, not to things, but to people. The whole discourse concerns persons, as Bishop Theophan says. The most characteristic feature of Christian freedom consists in voluntary and loving self-renunciation for the neighbor. This is what the holy Apostle Paul declares.

The Apostle also renounced much else for the salvation of those being converted. In other words, he enslaved himself to all his hearers, so as in one way or another to draw all to Christ.

According to Chrysostom, the Apostle Paul speaks as though saying: "I not only did not receive and did not use my right, but I even subjected myself to slavery, and to a varied and universal slavery."

"Do you see the greatest condescension? Though he was under the law of Christ and kept the highest law, he was for those without the law, the pagans, as one without the law, and for the Jews as a Jew. In both respects he appeared more perfect and higher than all."

He says he is free from all, not from things, but from men. And he made himself a slave to all, not to things, but to men. For the whole discourse concerns persons.

This enslavement consisted in this: he subjected his own disposition, customs, and desires to the dispositions of others. In this way, drawing near to them, he found access to their hearts, placed there the seed of the word, and gained them for the Lord.

Chrysostom says: "Here the Apostle presents still another excellence. Not to receive is a great thing. But what he wishes to say is much greater. What is it? I not only did not receive, he says, and not only did not use my right, but I even subjected myself to slavery, and to a varied and universal slavery."