1 Corinthians 9:16

1 Corinthians 9:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
• New International Version (NIV)For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
• English Standard Version (ESV)For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:16

14In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel. 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than – no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. 18What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:16 word by word

ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ γάρ μοί ἐστιν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίσωμαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• thoughἐάνean · ifG1437
• I preach the gospelεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• haveεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• nothingοὐou · noG3756
• to glory ofκαύχημαkauchēma · prideG2745
• necessityἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• is laidἐπίκειμαιepikeimai · to lay onG1945
• yeaδέde · thenG1161
• woeοὐαίouai · woe!G3759
• notμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:16

• Romans 4:2For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God.
• Romans 15:17So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God.
• Jeremiah 1:17“But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them.
• Jeremiah 20:7Lord, you coerced me into being a prophet, and I allowed you to do it. You overcame my resistance and prevailed over me. Now I have become a constant laughingstock. Everyone ridicules me.
• Amos 3:8A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy?
• Amos 7:15Then the Lord took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, ‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!’
• Acts 4:20for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
• Acts 9:6But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.”
• Acts 26:16But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you.
• Romans 1:14I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
• Isaiah 6:5I said, “Too bad for me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the Lord who commands armies.”
• Luke 9:62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
• Colossians 4:17And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For though I preach the Gospel - I have cause of glorying that I preach the Gospel free of all charges to you; but I cannot glory in being a preacher of the Gospel, because I am not such either by my own skill or power. I have received both the office, and the grace by which I execute the office, from God. I have not only his authority to preach, but that authority obliges me to preach; and if I did not, I should endanger my salvation: yea, wo is unto me…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For though I preach the gospel … - This, with the two following verses, is a very difficult passage, and has been very variously understood by interpreters. The general scope and purpose of the passage is to show what was the ground of his “glorying,” or of his hope of” reward” in preaching the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 9:15. he had intimated that he had cause of” glorying,” and that that cause was one which he was determined no one should take away. In…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. 16I am obligated: See Acts 22:14–15; 26:16–18.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. though I preach ... I have nothing to glory of--that is, If I preach the Gospel, and do so not gratuitously, I have no matter for "glorying." For the "necessity" that is laid on me to preach (compare Jr 20:9, and the case of Jonah) does away with ground for "glorying." The sole ground for the latter that I have, is my preaching without charge (1Co 9:18): since there is no necessity laid on me as to the latter, it is my voluntary act for the Gospel's…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:16

• Evil
• Gospel
• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Church
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Gospel
• Mystery
• Paul, the Apostle

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