1 Corinthians 9:18

1 Corinthians 9:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:18

16I tell God's good news to people. But I have no reason to be proud because of that. It is something that I have to do. If I did not tell the good news, it would bring me great trouble. 17If I were doing this work because I chose to do it, I would receive my pay. But I myself did not choose to do it. God has given me this work, so I have to do it. So what kind of pay do I receive? It is this: I do not take any money from people when I tell them God's good news. I do not use all the authority that I could use when I tell God's good news to people. 19Yes, I am a free man. I am not anybody's slave. But I choose to serve everybody like a slave. I do that so that I can help many more people to believe in Christ. 20When I was among Jews, I lived like they do, because I wanted to bring Jews to Christ. The Law that God gave to Moses no longer has authority over me. But I chose to obey that Law when I was among Jewish people who obey it. I did that so that I could help them to believe in Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:18 word by word

τίς οὖν μού ἐστιν ὁ μισθός; ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον εἰς τὸ μὴ καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• when I preach the gospelεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• I may makeτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• without chargeἀδάπανοςadapanos · freeG77
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• that I abuseκαταχράομαιkatachraomai · to use upG2710
• notμήmē · notG3361
• powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:18

• 1 Corinthians 9:6Barnabas and I seem to be the only leaders who must work at other jobs. We should not need to do that!
• 1 Corinthians 10:33Copy my example. Whatever I do, I try to make other people happy. I do not try to do what will help me. Instead, I want to help other people. I live in that way so that God will save many people.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5We do not speak a message about ourselves. We tell people that Jesus Christ is our Lord. Because we belong to Jesus, we have become your servants, not your masters.
• 2 Corinthians 11:7When I told you God's good news, I never asked you to pay me anything. I made myself less important so that you could be more important. I do not think that I was wrong to do that.
• 2 Corinthians 12:13I worked among you in the same way as I did with the other churches. You were never less important to me than they are. The only difference is that I did not ask you to help me with money. So perhaps I should ask you to forgive me for that!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6We did not want anyone to say that we are great people. We did not want you to do that, or anyone else.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8We always paid for the food that anyone gave to us. We worked hard all the time, during the day and at night. We did that so that we would not make trouble for any of you.
• 1 Corinthians 7:31If you enjoy the things of this world, do not live as if those things are important. This world, as it is now, will soon finish.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9You are free to eat any kind of food. You understand that. But other Christians do not understand so well. So you must be careful. Do not cause them to do something that they think is wrong.
• Romans 14:15You should not cause another believer to be sad because of what you eat. If you do make him sad, then you are not really loving him. Remember that Christ died on behalf of that person. So do not let your food make him turn away from God.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18That I abuse not my power - I am inclined to think that is to be understood here, not in the sense of abusing, but of using to the uttermost - exacting every thing that a man can claim by law. How many proofs have we of this in preachers of different denominations, who insist so strongly and so frequently on their privileges, as they term them, that the people are tempted to believe they seek not their souls' interests, but their secular goods. Such…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18What is my reward then? - What is the source of my reward? or what is there in my conduct that will show that I am entitled to reward What is there that will demonstrate that my heart is in the work of the ministry; that I am free and voluntary, and that I am not urged by mere necessity? Though I have been called by miracle, and though necessity is laid upon me, so that I cannot but preach the gospel, yet how shall I so do it as to make it proper for God…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. 18Paul felt satisfied preaching the good news about Jesus without asking for payment. This sets an example for how Christians must be willing to give up their rights to help others (see 8:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. What is my reward?--The answer is in 1Co 9:19; namely, that by making the Gospel without charge, where I might have rightfully claimed maintenance, I might "win the more." of Christ--The oldest manuscripts and versions omit these words. abuse--rather "that I use not to the full my power." This is his matter for "glorying"; the "reward" ultimately aimed at is the gaining of the more (1Co 9:19). The former, as involving the latter, is verbally made the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:18

• Evil
• Gospel
• Minister, Christian
• Self-Denial
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Abuse
• Authority in Religion
• Charge; Chargeable

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