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

16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. 17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless. What, then, is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law;

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

• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408
• That, when I preachεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• I may offerτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
• withoutἀδάπανοςadapanos · freeG77
• soεἰςeis · towardG1519
• not to makeκαταχράομαιkatachraomai · to use upG2710
• my rightἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:18

• 1 Corinthians 9:6Or do only Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from working?
• 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 11:7Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
• 2 Corinthians 12:13For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
• 1 Corinthians 7:31and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the present form of this world is passing away.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
• Romans 14:15For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died.

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