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

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. For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. 21To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

1 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 you not my work in the Lord?
• Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
• Matthew 20:26It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,
• John 13:14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet.
• Romans 1:14I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the 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 we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.
• Galatians 5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.
• 1 Corinthians 7:16For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.
• Matthew 18:15“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother.
• Romans 11:14if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.
• 1 Timothy 4:16Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
• 2 Timothy 2:10So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its 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