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 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 willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18What 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. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without 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 an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
• Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
• Matthew 20:26Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him 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 a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
• Romans 15:2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
• Galatians 5:13For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
• 1 Corinthians 7:16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
• Matthew 18:15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
• Romans 11:14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
• 1 Timothy 4:16Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
• 2 Timothy 2:10Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which 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

• 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