34 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For though I be free from all men,.... As an apostle, being in the highest office in the church, he had none superior to him, that could exercise any power and authority over him, and was also independent of men for his maintenance, which he got by his own hand labour: though it may be observed, that the word "men" is not in the original text, and...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew,.... That is, in religion; or with respect to some religious observances peculiar to the Jews, for he himself was really a Jew by nature; who became as one unto them in this sense, when he for their sakes circumcised Timothy at Derbe, or Lystra, purified himself at Jerusalem, shaved his head at Cenchrea,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
To them that are without law, as without law,.... Meaning the Gentiles, who, though they were not without the law of nature, nor without many good civil laws, by which the more cultivated and civilized nations among them were governed, yet they were without the written law of Moses; a description of the Gentiles, usual with the Jews; see Romans...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
To the weak became I as weak,.... That is, to weak Christians, who were weak in faith, and had not such clear knowledge of Gospel liberty, and therefore scrupled the eating of some sorts of meat, and particularly meats offered to idols; and the apostle so far consulted the peace and edification of these weak brethren, and so far complied with...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? No matter if twenty or a hundred had entered for the race, “but one receiveth the prize.” Alas! out of these who appear...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And this I do for the Gospel's sake,.... The Alexandrian copy and some others read, "all things I do", c. and so the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions that is, he became all things to all men, and so and so to different persons; not for his own sake, for his own temporal advantage, or to curry favour with men; not for the sake of gaining wealth,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Know ye not that they which run in a race,.... The allusion in this and the following verses is to the Grecian games, which consisted, among other things, of running of races, and of wrestling, combating, and fighting; and which are in this and the context particularly mentioned: and the apostle the rather makes use of these terms, and refers to...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
So run, that ye may obtain. Do not speculate about what others will do, or not do, but see to your own running: “So run that ye may obtain.” Salvation is all of grace; but when a man is saved, he still has to run the Christian race and to be a runner as long as he lives.”
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And every man that striveth for the mastery,.... Either in running a race, or in wrestling; for the word here used agrees with both, and both are in the context referred to, nor has the apostle as yet done with his allusion to running in a race; is temperate in all things; contains himself from venery, abstains from certain sorts of food, which...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Here Paul is alluding to the athletic games and pugilistic encounters of the time. It was a matter of common notoriety that every man, who was going to fight, or wrestle, or run, had to get himself into proper condition, — to “go into training,” as we say in similar cases...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
I therefore so run,.... The apostle animates the Corinthians by his own example, telling them that he ran so as he exhorted them; he ran with cheerfulness and swiftness in the way marked out for him, looking to Jesus; continuing steadfast in the profession of his faith, and discharge of his duty as a Christian, and in preaching the Gospel as a...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: He would not leave a stone unturned, as it were, that he might gain the prize; he put out all his strength in the name of the Lord.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But I keep under my body,.... The allusion is still to fighters, who, by cuffing and boxing, give their antagonists black and blue eyes, which is the proper signification of the word here used: so it is said (u) of Menedemus, that in questions or scholastic exercises, he was so vehement and pugnacious, that he never departed without υπωπιαφερων,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: The Greek word, according to some, implies getting his body into the same position as a man does, when, in a pugilistic encounter, he gets his adversary’s head under his arm, and smites him with all his might, So Paul says concerning his body, “I bring it into subjection and take care that it...