1 Corinthians 9:19

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

17If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. 18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it. Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. 21To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

1 Corinthians 9:19 word by word

Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·Read the interlinear

• Thoughγάρgar · forG1063
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• free of obligationἐλεύθεροςeleutheros · free/freedomG1658
• toἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• anyoneπᾶςpas · allG3956
• I make myself a slaveδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
• I make myself a slaveἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• winκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• as many as possibleπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119

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 you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
• Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
• Matthew 20:26It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
• John 13:14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
• Romans 1:14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
• Romans 15:2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
• Galatians 5:13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.
• 1 Corinthians 7:16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
• Matthew 18:15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
• Romans 11:14in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
• 1 Timothy 4:16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
• 2 Timothy 2:10For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that 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

• Evil
• Expediency
• Minister, Christian
• Self-Denial
• Tact
• Unselfishness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Meekness
• Plow
• Wait
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Gain
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Leviticus

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