1 Corinthians 9:15-18
New Living Translation
15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
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1 Corinthians 9:15-18
International Standard Version
15 But I have not used any of these rights, and I’m not writing this so that they may be applied in my case. I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason for[a] boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this obligation has been entrusted to me. How terrible it would be for me if I didn’t preach the gospel! 17 For if I preach voluntarily, I get a reward, but if I am unwilling to do it, I am still entrusted with that obligation. 18 What, then, is my reward? It is[b] to be able to preach the gospel free of charge, and so I never resort to demanding my rights when I’m preaching[c] the gospel.
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- 1 Corinthians 9:15 The Gk. lacks reason for
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 The Gk. lacks It is
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 Lit. rights in
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