Paul Is Focused on Fulfilling His Calling

This section continues on the theme of Paul's preaching at Corinth being financed by his own labor to avoid conflicts which would harm the gospel. He was intent to preach the gospel for free and not allow his boast in the Lord be compromised by patronage from people with bad theology of motives. We discuss Paul's use of "woe" which has eschatological implications in the Bible.

He is called and thus compelled to preach and therefore does so as Christ's slave. Paul speaks of a contrast between voluntarily and unwillingly. The point is that his stewardship (or 'responsibility'– vs 17) means he is a household manager who is doing his duty for his Master and necessarily so.

Whatever reward there will be is part of the eternal promise, not wages given now. Jesus gave parables about stewardship which bring this out. We spend some time about 'boasting only in the Lord' during the exposition of our verses as well as in an application.

What anyone has in the Lord is a free gift and our boast is that we have a relationship with Christ by faith, as His free gift. We cite Jeremiah 9:23-24 which is a key text about boasting in the Lord. Paul claims he is compelled to fulfill his calling and will not be turned aside from it.