Paul’s ground for boasting, then, is that he may present the gospel free of charge.
To this he adds his motivation: so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
The word behind to make full use of
can also be translated as to abuse.
It seems unlikely that Paul’s only aim is not to make full use
of his right to live by the gospel. He is making no use of this right at all! Therefore, a better translation might be, “so as not to abuse my right in the gospel.”
We do not have enough background information to know exactly how Paul’s acceptance of material support would be an abuse of his right in the gospel. From 1 Corinthians 9:12 we know that Paul’s acceptance of support would put some kind of obstacle in the way of the gospel.
One possibility is that it would shed doubt on Paul’s motive, since he was known to have persecuted the church before (Acts 9:21, Acts 9:26).
Thus, the Corinthians should learn from Paul’s own example to look further than rights,
and to focus on love. If the use of one’s right
means that an obstacle is put in the way of the gospel, then one is in fact abusing that right.
18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.