1 Corinthians · Bible in Basic English
1 Corinthians 9 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Am I not free? am I not an Apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are you not my work in the Lord?
1 Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ;
2 If to others I am not an Apostle, at least I am one to you: for the fact that you are Christians is the sign that I am an Apostle.
2 εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ.
3 My answer to those who are judging me is this.
3 ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσιν αὕτη ἐστί.
4 Have we no right to take food and drink?
4 Μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν;
5 Have we no right to take about with us a Christian wife, like the rest of the Apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
5 μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Κηφᾶς;
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we no right to take a rest from work?
6 ἢ μόνος ἐγὼ καὶ Βαρνάβας οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι;
7 Who ever goes to war without looking to someone to be responsible for his payment? who puts in vines and does not take the fruit of them? or who takes care of sheep without drinking of their milk?
7 τίς στρατεύεται ἰδίοις ὀψωνίοις ποτέ; τίς φυτεύει ἀμπελῶνα καὶ ἐκ τοῦ καρποῦ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐσθίει; ἢ τίς ποιμαίνει ποίμνην καὶ ἐκ τοῦ γάλακτος τῆς ποίμνης οὐκ ἐσθίει;
8 Am I talking as a man? does not the law say the same?
8 Μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ; ἢ οὐχὶ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα λέγει;
9 For it says in the law of Moses, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. Is it for the oxen that God is giving orders?
9 ἐν γὰρ τῷ Μωσέως νόμῳ γέγραπται· οὐ φιμώσεις βοῦν ἀλοῶντα. μὴ τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ Θεῷ;
10 Or has he us in mind? Yes, it was said for us; because it is right for the ploughman to do his ploughing in hope, and for him who is crushing the grain to do his work hoping for a part in the fruits of it.
10 ἢ δι᾽ ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει; δι᾽ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη, ὅτι ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι ὀφείλει ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν, καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν τῆς ἐλπίδος αὐτοῦ μετέχειν ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι.
11 If we have been planting the things of the Spirit for you, does it seem a great thing for you to give us a part in your things of this world?
11 Εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῖν τὰ πνευματικὰ ἐσπείραμεν, μέγα εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῶν τὰ σαρκικὰ θερίσομεν;
12 If others have a part in this right over you, have we not even more? But we did not make use of our right, so that we might put nothing in the way of the good news of Christ.
12 εἰ ἄλλοι τῆς ἐξουσίας ὑμῶν μετέχουσιν, οὐ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς; ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ταύτῃ, ἀλλὰ πάντα στέγομεν, ἵνα μὴ ἐγκοπήν τινα δῶμεν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
13 Do you not see that the servants of the holy things get their living from the Temple, and the servants of the altar have their part in the food which is offered on the altar?
13 οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν, οἱ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ προσεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται;
14 Even so did the Lord give orders that the preachers of the good news might get their living from the good news.
14 οὕτω καὶ ὁ Κύριος διέταξε τοῖς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον καταγγέλλουσιν ἐκ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ζῆν.
15 But I have not made use of any of these things: and I am not writing this in the hope that it may be so for me: for it would be better for me to undergo death, than for any man to make this pride of mine of no effect.
15 ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδενὶ ἐχρησάμην τούτων. Οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτω γένηται ἐν ἐμοί· καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἢ τὸ καύχημά μου ἵνα τις κενώσῃ.
16 For if I am a preacher of the good news, I have no cause for pride in this; because I am forced to do so, for a curse is on me if I do not.
16 ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστι μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ δὲ μοί ἐστιν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι·
17 But if I do it gladly, I have a reward; and if not, I am under orders to do it.
17 εἰ γὰρ ἑκὼν τοῦτο πράσσω, μισθὸν ἔχω· εἰ δὲ ἄκων, οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι.
18 What then is my reward? This, that when I am giving the good news, I may give it without payment, not making use of my rights as a preacher of the good news.
18 τίς οὖν μοί ἐστιν ὁ μισθός; ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς τὸ μὴ καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.
19 For though I was free from all men, I made myself a servant to all, so that more might have salvation.
19 Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·
20 And to the Jews I was as a Jew, so that I might give the good news to them; to those under the law I was the same, not as being myself under the law, but so that I might give the good news to those under the law.
20 καὶ ἐγενόμην τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὡς Ἰουδαῖος, ἵνα Ἰουδαίους κερδήσω· τοῖς ὑπὸ νόμον ὡς ὑπὸ νόμον, ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον κερδήσω·
21 To those without the law I was as one without the law, not as being without law to God, but as under law to Christ, so that I might give the good news to those without the law.
21 τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος Θεῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ἔννομος Χριστῷ, ἵνα κερδήσω ἀνόμους·
22 To the feeble, I was as one who is feeble, so that they might have salvation: I have been all things to all men, so that some at least might have salvation.
22 ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ὡς ἀσθενής, ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω· τοῖς πᾶσι γέγονα τὰ πάντα, ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω.
23 And I do all things for the cause of the good news, so that I may have a part in it.
23 Τοῦτο δὲ ποιῶ διὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, ἵνα συγκοινωνὸς αὐτοῦ γένωμαι.
24 Do you not see that in a running competition all take part, but only one gets the reward? So let your minds be fixed on the reward.
24 Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν τρέχουσιν, εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον; οὕτω τρέχετε, ἵνα καταλάβητε.
25 And every man who takes part in the sports has self-control in all things. Now they do it to get a crown which is of this world, but we for an eternal crown.
25 πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος πάντα ἐγκρατεύεται, ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν ἵνα φθαρτὸν στέφανον λάβωσιν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄφθαρτον.
26 So then I am running, not uncertainly; so I am fighting, not as one who gives blows in the air:
26 ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτω τρέχω, ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως, οὕτω πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων,
27 But I give blows to my body, and keep it under control, for fear that, after having given the good news to others, I myself might not have God's approval.
27 ἀλλ᾽ ὑποπιάζω μου τὸ σῶμα καὶ δουλαγωγῶ, μήπως ἄλλοις κηρύξας αὐτὸς ἀδόκιμος γένωμαι.
Cross references (27)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 9:17; Acts 9:3; 1 Timothy 2:7; Acts 23:11; 1 Corinthians 9:19
- 2 2 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 3:1–3; John 6:27
- 3 Acts 25:16; 2 Timothy 4:16; Philippians 1:7; Acts 22:1; Philippians 1:17
- 4 1 Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:8–9; Luke 10:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 10:10
- 5 John 1:42; Matthew 8:14; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 1 Corinthians 7:7; Galatians 1:19
- 6 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9; Acts 13:1–2; Acts 18:3; Acts 4:36; 1 Thessalonians 2:9
- 7 Proverbs 27:18; Deuteronomy 20:6; 2 Timothy 2:3–4; 1 Corinthians 3:6–8; 1 Timothy 1:18
- 8 Romans 6:19; Isaiah 8:20; 1 Corinthians 14:34; Romans 3:31; 1 Corinthians 7:40
- 9 Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Timothy 5:18; Psalm 104:27; Psalm 145:15–16; Jonah 4:11
- 10 Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 2:6; Romans 4:23–24; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 3:9
- 11 Romans 15:27; Galatians 6:6; Matthew 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:15; Malachi 3:8–9
- 12 2 Corinthians 11:12; 1 Corinthians 9:15; 1 Corinthians 9:18; 2 Corinthians 11:7–10; 1 Thessalonians 2:6–9
- 13 Numbers 5:9–10; Leviticus 6:26; Numbers 18:8–20; 1 Samuel 2:28; 1 Corinthians 10:18
- 14 Matthew 10:10; 1 Timothy 5:17–18; 1 Corinthians 9:4; Galatians 6:6; Luke 10:7
- 15 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 11:9–12; Acts 20:34
- 16 Romans 1:14; Jeremiah 20:9; Colossians 4:17; Luke 9:62; Acts 4:20
- 17 Galatians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Colossians 1:25; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 10:41
- 18 2 Corinthians 11:7–9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8–9; 1 Corinthians 10:33; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:6
- 19 Galatians 5:13; Matthew 18:15; 1 Corinthians 10:33; James 5:19–20; Matthew 20:26–28
- 20 Acts 16:3; Galatians 5:18; Acts 21:20–26; Acts 17:2–3; Acts 18:18
- 21 Romans 2:12; Galatians 3:2; Romans 2:14; Matthew 5:17–20; 1 Corinthians 7:19–22
- 22 1 Corinthians 10:33; Romans 15:1; 1 Corinthians 9:19; Romans 11:14; Galatians 6:1
- 23 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Corinthians 9:25–27; Mark 8:35; 1 John 1:3; Galatians 2:5
- 24 Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; Revelation 3:11; Philippians 2:16
- 25 2 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; James 1:12
- 26 2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Peter 1:10; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 1:29; 2 Timothy 1:12
- 27 Romans 8:13; 1 Corinthians 9:25; Colossians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 13:5–6; 1 Peter 2:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Inasmuch as he had said, "If meat make my brother to stumble I will eat no flesh forever;" a thing which he had not yet done, but professed he would do if need require: lest any man should say, "Thou vauntest thyself at random, and art severe in discourse, and utterest words of promise, a thing easy to me or …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
But I so run, not as uncertainty; I fight, not as one beating the air; but I make my body livid, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when preaching to others, I may myself be rendered a castaway." This able wrestler, therefore, exhorts us to the struggle for immortality, that we may be crowned, and may deem …
But now is necessity sweet unto me, and against this sweetness do I fight, lest I be enthralled; and I carry on a daily war by fasting, oftentimes "bringing my body into subjection," and my pains are expelled by pleasure.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… said, "Go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." Thus doth Paul also: when he had first established his reasoning by illustrations from common things, and had said, "Who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk thereof?" then he brings in the Scriptures also, saying, "It is written in the law of …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… candle on a candlestick, when he says, "So fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I preach to others, I myself should be found a castaway." When He says, however, "that it may give light to all who are in the …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)