American Standard Version
1 Corinthians 9:19
19For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
1 Corinthians 9:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
- New International Version (NIV)Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
Context of 1 Corinthians 9:19
17For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. 18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel. For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 20And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 9:19 word by word
Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:19
- 1 Corinthians 9:1Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
- Galatians 5:1For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
- Matthew 20:26Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
- John 13:14If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- Romans 1:14I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
- Romans 15:2Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.
- 2 Corinthians 4:5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- Galatians 5:13For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
- 1 Corinthians 7:16For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
- Matthew 18:15And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
- Romans 11:14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.
- 1 Timothy 4:16Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.
- 2 Timothy 2:10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19For though I be free - Although I am under no obligation to any man, yet I act as if every individual had a particular property in me, and as if I were the slave of the public.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19For though I be free - I am a freeman. I am under obligation to none. I am not bound to. give them my labors, and at the same time to toil for my own support. I have claims like others, and could urge them; and no man could demand that I should give myself to a life of servitude, and comply with their prejudices and wishes, as if I were a “slave,” in order to their conversion; compare 1 Corinthians 9:1; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 6:12. From all men…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-23Paul puts himself in the humble position of a servant in the household. He shows how much he was willing to change his lifestyle and behavior to match the people he preached to, in order to bring them to Christ.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. free from all men--that is, from the power of all men. gain the more--that is, as many of them ("all men") as possible. "Gain" is an appropriate expression in relation to a "reward" (1Th 2:19, 20); he therefore repeats it frequently (1Co 9:20-22).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries