1 Corinthians · Free Bible Version
1 Corinthians 9 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren't you the results of 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 Even if I'm not an apostle to others, at least I am one to you. The proof of my being an apostle of the Lord is you!
2 εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ.
3 Here is my reply to those who question me about this:
3 ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσιν αὕτη ἐστί.
4 Don't we have the right to be provided with food and drink?
4 Μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν;
5 Don't we have a right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the rest of the apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Peter?
5 μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Κηφᾶς;
6 Is it only Barnabas and myself who have to work to support ourselves?
6 ἢ μόνος ἐγὼ καὶ Βαρνάβας οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι;
7 Which soldier ever had to pay his own salary? Who plants a vineyard and doesn't get to eat its fruits? Who feeds a flock and doesn't consume its 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 just speaking from a human point of view? Doesn't the law say the same thing?
8 Μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ; ἢ οὐχὶ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα λέγει;
9 In the law of Moses it's written, “Don't muzzle the ox when it's threshing out the grain.” Was God just thinking about oxen?
9 ἐν γὰρ τῷ Μωσέως νόμῳ γέγραπται· οὐ φιμώσεις βοῦν ἀλοῶντα. μὴ τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ Θεῷ;
10 Wasn't he directing this at us? Surely this was written for us—for anyone who plows should plow in hope and anyone who threshes should hope to share in the harvest.
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 sowed what is spiritual with you, does it really matter if we reap some material benefit?
11 Εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῖν τὰ πνευματικὰ ἐσπείραμεν, μέγα εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῶν τὰ σαρκικὰ θερίσομεν;
12 If others exercise this right over you, don't we deserve it even more? Even so we did not exercise this right. On the contrary we would rather put up with anything than hold back the gospel 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 Don't you know that those who work in temples receive their meals from temple offerings, and those who serve at the altar receive their portion of the sacrifice on the altar?
13 οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν, οἱ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ προσεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται;
14 In just the same way the Lord ordered that those who announce the good news should live from supporters of 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 provisions, and I'm not writing about this to suggest it should be done in my case. I'd rather die than to have anyone take away my pride in not having received any benefit.
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 I have nothing to boast about in sharing the good news because it's something I feel compelled to do. In fact it's dreadful for me if I don't share the good news!
16 ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστι μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ δὲ μοί ἐστιν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι·
17 If I'm doing this work because of my own choice, then I have a reward. But if it wasn't my choice, and an obligation was placed on me,
17 εἰ γὰρ ἑκὼν τοῦτο πράσσω, μισθὸν ἔχω· εἰ δὲ ἄκων, οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι.
18 then what reward do I have? It's the opportunity to share the good news without charging for it, not demanding my rights as a worker for 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 Even though I am free and serve no one, I have placed myself in service to everyone so that I might gain more.
19 Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·
20 To the Jews I behave like a Jew so that I might win Jews. To those who are under the law I behave as someone under the law (even though I am not obligated under the law), so that I might win 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 who don't operate according to the law, I behave like them (though not disregarding God's law, but operating under the law of Christ), so that I might gain those who don't observe the law.
21 τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος Θεῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ἔννομος Χριστῷ, ἵνα κερδήσω ἀνόμους·
22 To those who are weak, I share in their weakness so that I may win the weak. I have ended up being “everyman” to everyone so that by using every possible means I might win some!
22 ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ὡς ἀσθενής, ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω· τοῖς πᾶσι γέγονα τὰ πάντα, ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω.
23 I do all this for the sake of the good news so that I too may share in its blessings!
23 Τοῦτο δὲ ποιῶ διὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, ἵνα συγκοινωνὸς αὐτοῦ γένωμαι.
24 Wouldn't you agree that there are many runners in a race, but only one gets the prize? So run your best, so you may win!
24 Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν τρέχουσιν, εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον; οὕτω τρέχετε, ἵνα καταλάβητε.
25 Every competitor who participates in the games maintains a strict training discipline. Of course they do so to win a crown that doesn't last. But our crowns will last forever!
25 πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος πάντα ἐγκρατεύεται, ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν ἵνα φθαρτὸν στέφανον λάβωσιν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄφθαρτον.
26 That's why I run straight in the right direction. I fight accurately, not punching the air.
26 ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτω τρέχω, ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως, οὕτω πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων,
27 I also treat my body severely to bring it under my control, for I don't want somehow to be disqualified after sharing the good news with everybody else.
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)