Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 1 Corinthians 9
Close HCSB

1 Corinthians 9
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Example as an Apostle

9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal(A) of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Don’t we have the right to eat and drink?(B) 5 Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife[a] like the other apostles,(C) the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas?(D) 6 Or do Barnabas(E) and I alone have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense?(F) Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock? 8 Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox(G) while it treads out grain.(H)[b] Is God really concerned with oxen? 10 Or isn’t He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us,(I) because he who plows ought to plow in hope,(J) and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop.(K) 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? 12 If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more?

However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything(L) so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar(M) share in the offerings of the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.(N)

15 But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted(O) with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.(P)

19 Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win(Q) more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law[c]—to win those under the law.(R) 21 To those who are without that law,(S) like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.(T) 23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.[d]

24 Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race,(U) but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.(V) 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control(W) in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown(X) that will fade away,(Y) but we a crown that will never fade away. 26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit a sister as a wife
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Dt 25:4
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:20 Other mss omit though I myself am not under law
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:23 Lit partner of it
Listen to 1 Corinthians 9
Close KJV

1 Corinthians 9
King James Version

9 Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Close DLNT

1 Corinthians 9
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

For Example, I Have The Right To Be Paid As God’s Workman

9 Am[a] I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet indeed I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord— 3 this[b] is my defense to the ones examining me! 4 We do not fail to have the right to eat[c] and drink, do we? 5 We do not fail to have the right to take along[d] a sister who is a wife, do we?— as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas. 6 Or I alone and Barnabas— do not we have the right not to be working[e]?

Workers Always Partake of The Fruit of Their Labors

7 Who ever serves-as-a-soldier with his own rations? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?

Does Not The Law Say This Very Thing?

8 I am not speaking these things according to [mere] human thinking[f], am I ? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9 For in the Law of Moses it has been written [in Deut 25:4], “You shall not muzzle a threshing ox”. God is not concerned about the oxen[g], is He? 10 Or is He surely speaking for our sake? Indeed it was written for our sake— because[h] the one plowing ought to plow on the basis of hope, and the one threshing to thresh on the basis of hope that he might partake.

I Do Have This Right Over You

11 If we sowed spiritual things to you, is it a great thing if we shall reap fleshly[i] things from you? 12 If others partake of this right over you, should we not more?

But I Chose Not To Make Use Of This Right So As Not To Hinder The Gospel

Nevertheless, we did not make-use-of [j] this right. But we are bearing[k] all things, in order that we might not give any hindrance to the good-news of Christ.

The Lord Even Commanded That Gospel Workers Live By Their Work

13 Do you not know that the ones working the temple-duties eat the things from the temple, that the ones serving at the altar divide-a-share with the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed[l] the ones proclaiming the good-news to be living from the good-news.

But My Boast Is That I Do Not Make Use of This Right

15 But I have not made-use-of any of these things. And I did not write these things in order that it might become so in my case, for it would be better for me to die rather than— no one shall empty my boast[m]! 16 For if I am announcing-the-good-news, it is not[n] a boast for me, for a necessity[o] is lying-upon[p] me; for woe is to me if I do not announce-the-good-news. 17 For if I am practicing this of-my-own-will, I have a reward; but if not-of-my-own-will, I have been entrusted a stewardship[q]. 18 What then is my reward? That while announcing-the-good-news, I might place the good-news free-of-charge, so as not to make-full-use-of my right in[r] the good-news.

For I Have Chosen To Enslave Myself To All For The Advance of The Gospel

19 For[s] while being free from all people, I enslaved myself to all in order that I might gain the more. 20 Indeed I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain Jews; to the ones under the Law, as under the Law— not being myself under the Law— in order that I might gain the ones under the Law; 21 to the ones without-the-Law, as without-the-Law— not being without-the-law of God, but within-the-law of Christ— in order that I might gain the ones without-the-Law. 22 I became weak to the weak, in order that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that I might by all means save some. 23 And I am doing all things for the sake of the good-news, in order that I might become a co-partner of it.

On The Other Hand, I Will Do Everything Needed To Win My Race And Keep My Prize

24 Do[t] you not know that the ones running in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Be running in this manner: that you may take-hold-of the prize. 25 And everyone competing exercises-self-control as to all things. So those do it in order that they might receive a decayable crown, but we an undecayable one. 26 So-indeed I run in this manner, as not aimlessly[u]. I box in this manner, as not beating the air. 27 But I bruise my body and make it my slave, that having proclaimed to others, I myself should not somehow become disapproved[v].

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:1 To justify the bold statement just made, Paul uses himself (in foregoing his right to financial support) as an example of choosing not to use one’s rights in order to advance the gospel.
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:3 That is, you are the defense of my apostleship to any who would oppose it (making this a parenthetical comment). Or, “Lord. This is my defense (for the bold statement in 8:13) to the ones examining me— we” (making verse 2 parenthetical).
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:4 That is, to sustain ourselves through our work among you.
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, to take a believing wife with us in our ministry to you, at your expense.
  5. 1 Corinthians 9:6 That is, not to be working outside of our ministry to you in order to support ourselves.
  6. 1 Corinthians 9:8 Or, according to mankind.
  7. 1 Corinthians 9:9 No, God is not concerned whether oxen get fed before, during, or after threshing. This was an object-lesson.
  8. 1 Corinthians 9:10 Or, [meaning] that.
  9. 1 Corinthians 9:11 That is, material.
  10. 1 Corinthians 9:12 Paul does not make use of rights from which he is in no way excluded. The Corinthians should also forego rights no one would ever deny are theirs.
  11. 1 Corinthians 9:12 Or, enduring.
  12. 1 Corinthians 9:14 Or, commanded, ordered. Paul does not make use of rights specifically commanded by the Lord. The Corinthians should also forego rights specifically granted in Scripture, rights based on knowledge.
  13. 1 Corinthians 9:15 Paul’s sacrifice of his right to financial support is a personal matter of boasting for which he would die rather than give up.
  14. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul cannot boast that he is proclaiming the gospel, only in how he does it, sacrificially.
  15. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Or, compulsion, constraint.
  16. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Or, is pressing upon, is laid upon, is imposed upon. Paul must do it.
  17. 1 Corinthians 9:17 That is, a position of management responsibility given him by his Master.
  18. 1 Corinthians 9:18 That is, in connection with.
  19. 1 Corinthians 9:19 Paul now expands his point beyond the financial arena.
  20. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul now gives a positive reason. Do these things not only to not hinder the gospel (for the good of others, 8:13-9:23), but to take hold of your own reward (for your own good).
  21. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Or, uncertainly, unknowingly.
  22. 1 Corinthians 9:27 That is, for the prize, v 24. Or, disqualified. Positively stated, that I might receive my reward and keep it. The Corinthians could seem to win a reward based on knowledge, but lose it due to the impact of their behavior on others.
Listen to 1 Corinthians 9
Close NIV

1 Corinthians 9
New International Version

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?(A) Am I not an apostle?(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?(D) 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal(E) of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink?(F) 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife(G) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers(H) and Cephas[a]?(I) 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas(J) who lack the right to not work for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier(K) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard(L) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[b](M) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(N) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(O) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(P) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(Q) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(R) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(S) the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(T) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(U)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(V) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(W) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(X) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(Y) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(Z) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(AA) and so not make full use of my rights(AB) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(AC) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(AD) to win as many as possible.(AE) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(AF) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(AG) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(AH) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(AI) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(AJ) I have become all things to all people(AK) so that by all possible means I might save some.(AL) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(AM) Run(AN) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(AO) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(AP) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(AQ) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(AR) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(AS) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
Next
1 Corinthians 8
1 Corinthians 10
Next
dropdown
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)

Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing

Info & Free Downloads - Home of the Disciples' Literal New Testament
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV