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 of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have been entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward? That when I preach, I may present the Good News free of charge, not making use of my right in the Good News. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win over more of them. 20To the Jewish people I identified as a Jew, so that I might win over the Jewish people. To those under Torah I became like one under Torah (though not myself being under Torah), so that I might win over those under Torah; 21to those outside Torah, like one outside Torah (though not being outside God’s Torah but in Messiah’s Torah), so that I might win over those outside Torah.

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 emissary? Have I not seen Yeshua our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
• Galatians 5:1For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
• Matthew 20:26It shall not be this way among you. But whoever wants to be great among you shall be your servant,
• John 13:14So if I, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash each other’s feet.
• Romans 1:14I have an obligation to both Greeks and barbarians, to both the wise and the foolish.
• Romans 15:2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, for building him up.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Messiah Yeshua as Lord—and ourselves as your slaves for Yeshua’s sake.
• Galatians 5:13Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom—only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jewish people I identified as a Jew, so that I might win over the Jewish people. To those under Torah I became like one under Torah (though not myself being under Torah), so that I might win over those under Torah;
• 1 Corinthians 7:16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever wins souls is wise.
• Matthew 18:15“Now if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault while you’re with him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
• Romans 11:14if somehow I might provoke to jealousy my own flesh and blood and save some of them.
• 1 Timothy 4:16Give attention to yourself and your teaching. Persevere in these things, for in doing so you will save yourself and those who hear you.
• 2 Timothy 2:10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the chosen, so they might obtain the salvation that is in Messiah Yeshua 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