1 Corinthians · Darby Translation
1 Corinthians 9 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Darby Darby Translation
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in [the] Lord?
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you 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 I am not an apostle to others, yet at any rate I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in [the] Lord.
2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
2 εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ.
3 My defence to those who examine me is this:
3 My defense to those who examine me is this:
3 ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσιν αὕτη ἐστί.
4 Have we not a right to eat and to drink?
4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
4 Μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν;
5 have we not a right to take round a sister [as] wife, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
5 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as 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 alone and Barnabas, have we not a right not to work?
6 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
6 ἢ μόνος ἐγὼ καὶ Βαρνάβας οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι;
7 Who ever carries on war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who herds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?
7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s 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 Do I speak these things as a man, or does not the law also say these things?
8 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
8 Μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ; ἢ οὐχὶ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα λέγει;
9 For in the law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that is treading out corn. Is God occupied about the oxen,
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,
9 ἐν γὰρ τῷ Μωσέως νόμῳ γέγραπται· οὐ φιμώσεις βοῦν ἀλοῶντα. μὴ τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ Θεῷ;
10 or does he say [it] altogether for our sakes? For for our sakes it has been written, that the plougher should plough in hope, and he that treads out corn, in hope of partaking of [it].
10 or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
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 sown to you spiritual things, [is it a] great [thing] if we shall reap your carnal things?
11 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
11 Εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῖν τὰ πνευματικὰ ἐσπείραμεν, μέγα εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῶν τὰ σαρκικὰ θερίσομεν;
12 If others partake of this right over you, should not rather we? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, that we may put no hindrance in the way of the glad tidings of the Christ.
12 If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to 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 ye not know that they who labour [at] sacred things eat of the [offerings offered in the] temple; they that attend at the altar partake with the altar?
13 Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
13 οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν, οἱ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ προσεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται;
14 So also the Lord has ordained to those that announce the glad tidings to live of the glad tidings.
14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
14 οὕτω καὶ ὁ Κύριος διέταξε τοῖς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον καταγγέλλουσιν ἐκ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ζῆν.
15 But I have used none of these things. Now I have not written these things that it should be thus in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die than that any one should make vain my boast.
15 But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
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 announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.
16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me if I don’t preach the Good News.
16 ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστι μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ δὲ μοί ἐστιν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι·
17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration.
17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
17 εἰ γὰρ ἑκὼν τοῦτο πράσσω, μισθὸν ἔχω· εἰ δὲ ἄκων, οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι.
18 What is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless [to others], so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in [announcing] the glad tidings.
18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in 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 being free from all, I have made myself bondman to all, that I might gain the most [possible].
19 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
19 Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·
20 And I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain the Jews: to those under law, as under law, not being myself under law, in order that I might gain those under law:
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are 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 law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain [those] without law.
21 to 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.
21 τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος Θεῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ἔννομος Χριστῷ, ἵνα κερδήσω ἀνόμους·
22 I became to the weak, [as] weak, in order that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, in order that at all events I might save some.
22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
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 sake of the glad tidings, that I may be fellow-partaker with them.
23 Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
23 Τοῦτο δὲ ποιῶ διὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, ἵνα συγκοινωνὸς αὐτοῦ γένωμαι.
24 Know ye not that they who run in [the] race-course run all, but one receives the prize? Thus run in order that ye may obtain.
24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.
24 Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν τρέχουσιν, εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον; οὕτω τρέχετε, ἵνα καταλάβητε.
25 But every one that contends [for a prize] is temperate in all things: they then indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
25 πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος πάντα ἐγκρατεύεται, ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν ἵνα φθαρτὸν στέφανον λάβωσιν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄφθαρτον.
26 I therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air.
26 I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,
26 ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτω τρέχω, ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως, οὕτω πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων,
27 But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest [after] having preached to others I should be myself rejected.
27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
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)