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

14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 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! 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18What 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 authority 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

• 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 were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
• Romans 15:17I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
• Jeremiah 1:17Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
• Jeremiah 20:7O Yhwh, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
• Amos 3:8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord Yhwh hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
• Amos 7:15And Yhwh took me as I followed the flock, And Yhwh said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
• Acts 4:20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
• Acts 9:6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
• Acts 26:16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
• Romans 1:14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
• Isaiah 6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Yhwh of Armies.
• Luke 9:62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
• Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

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