English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 9:19
19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
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.
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.
Context of 1 Corinthians 9:19
17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18What 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. For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- though I beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- freeἐλεύθεροςeleutheros · free/freedomG1658
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- yet have I madeδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
- myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- I might gainκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770
- the moreπλείων, 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 not you my workmanship in the Lord?
- Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
- Matthew 20:26It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
- John 13:14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
- Romans 1:14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
- Romans 15:2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
- 2 Corinthians 4:5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
- Galatians 5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
- 1 Corinthians 7:16For how 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 whoever captures souls is wise.
- Matthew 18:15"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
- Romans 11:14in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
- 1 Timothy 4:16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
- 2 Timothy 2:10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also 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
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
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Commentaries