Ver. 19. For though I be free from all men , etc.] 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 the word all may as well have respect to things as men; and the sense be, that he was free, as from the curse of the morallaw, so from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and all the rituals of it, and might, if he would, make use of his Christianliberty; the following verses seem to incline to this sense, as the preceding ones do to the former: yet have I made myself servant unto all ; in faithfully and indefatigably preaching the Gospel to them; undergoing all manner of affliction and persecution for the sake of that and them; behaving towards them with all meekness and humility; condescending to their weakness, and accommodating himself to their capacities and customs: that I might gain the more ; than other apostles have done, or than it could be reasonably thought he should, had he behaved in a more lordly and domineering manner: his end was not to amass wealth, to gainriches and treasures of good things to himself, but many souls to Christ, who otherwise must have been lost; but being brought to the knowledge of Christ, and salvation by him through his ministry, it was profit to them, and gain to Christ: the metaphor is taken from merchants, who spare no pains, but take every method to acquire gain and profit; the ministers of the word are spiritualmerchants, their traffic lies in the souls of men, whom they are studiously and anxiously careful to bring to Christ.
Verses 15-23 - It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Chris and savesouls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke take off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the stud and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did no stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, an against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must no allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.
19. Made myself servant (edoulwsa). Rev., brought myself under bondage; better, as bringing out the force of doulov bond-servant, from which the word is derived, and thus according with stewardship, ver. 17. Gain (kedhsw). Carrying out the thought of servant in ver. 18. "He refuses payment in money that he may make the greater gain in souls. But the gain is that which a faithfulsteward makes, not for himself, but for his master" (Edwards). The word is not, as Godet, to be limited to its purely natural meaning, but is used in the sense of Matt. xviii. 15; 1 Pet. iii. 1.
9:19 {I brought myself under bondage} (emauton edoulwsa). Voluntary bondage, I enslaved myself to all, though free. Causative verb in -ow (doulow, from doulos). The more (tous pleionas). Than he could have done otherwise. Every preacher faces this problem of his personal attitude and conduct. Note kerdesw (as in verses #20,21,22, but once hina kerdanw in #21, regular liquid future of kerdainw) with hina is probably future active indicative (#Jas 4:13), though Ionic aorist active subjunctive from kerdaw is possible (#Mt 18:15). "He refuses payment in money that he may make the greater gain in souls" (Edwards).
