For if I do this thing willingly
That is, not freely and without receiving anything for preaching,
without seeking any temporal profits and advantages; nor in pure
love to Christ, and the good of souls, without any fear of
punishment, or hope of reward; but the apostle supposes a case
which was not, and his sense is, that supposing no necessity had
been laid upon him, or any injunction or command given him to
preach the Gospel, but he had entered on it without any
obligation upon him, then, says he,
I have a reward;
or should have one, or might expect one; so the Jews F17 say,
that a reward is given to him, who does anything unbidden:
but if against my will,
or unwillingly,
a dispensation of the Gospel is committed to
me;
which was his case; the Gospel was committed to his trust, as
anything is to the trust and charge of a steward by his lord, who
is obliged to take care of it, and is accountable for it, and of
whom faithfulness is required; he did not undertake this economy,
or dispensation of the Gospel of himself, of his own mind and
will, but it was enjoined him by one that had the command over
him, and could and did oblige him to take the charge of it;
though he made him willing, as well as able to do it: and
therefore since this was the case, that it was not at his own
option whether he would preach the Gospel or not, but he was
obliged to it by one, that had a superior power and influence
over him; hence, though he performed it ever so well, and with
never so much faithfulness and integrity, he asks in the
following verse,