15 But I have (A)used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make (B)my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for (C)I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach (D)the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a (E)reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a (F)commission nonetheless. 18 What, then, is my (G)reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel (H)without charge, so as (I)not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

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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[a]! 16 For if I am announcing-the-good-news, it is not[b] a boast for me, for a necessity[c] is lying-upon[d] 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[e]. 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[f] the good-news.

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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul cannot boast that he is proclaiming the gospel, only in how he does it, sacrificially.
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Or, compulsion, constraint.
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Or, is pressing upon, is laid upon, is imposed upon. Paul must do it.
  5. 1 Corinthians 9:17 That is, a position of management responsibility given him by his Master.
  6. 1 Corinthians 9:18 That is, in connection with.