1 Corinthians 9:19

I am not obligated to do what anyone else thinks that I should do. Nevertheless, when I have been with any group of people, I have made myself do what they believed that I should do, just like a slave does what his master wants him to do. I have done that in order that I might convince more people to trust in Christ.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

In Context

18So perhaps you wonder what my reward is. [RHQ] I will tell you. When I proclaim the good message about Christ, I do not ask people for financial help. It makes me very happy not to ask for help, and being happy is the reward I get. I do not want to use the rights that I have when I proclaim the gospel.

20Specifically, when I was with fellow Jews, I did the things that Jews think that people should do. I did that in order that I might convince some of them to trust in Christ. Although I am now not obligated to obey the Jewish laws and rituals, when I was with those who believe that they are obligated to obey those laws, I did the things that they think that people should do. I did that in order to convince some of them to trust in Christ.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 9

Cross References

Proverbs 11:30Those who live righteously will live for a long time, but those who act violently will destroy their own lives (OR, those who are wise will have many people come and live with them).

Matthew 20:26You should not be like them. On the contrary, everyone among you who wants God to consider him great must become like a servant for the rest of you.

Romans 1:14I feel obliged to proclaim the gospel to all non-Jewish people, specifically to people who know the Greek language and culture and to those who do not know it, to people who are educated and to those who are uneducated.

Romans 15:2Each of us should do the things that please the fellow believers with whom we come in contact, and things that will benefit them. We should do those things in order to help them mature spiritually.

1 Corinthians 9:1I am certainly free to do all the things that God allows me to do. [RHQ] I am an apostle. [RHQ] You certainly know that I have seen Jesus our Lord. [RHQ] It is a result of my work that you have believed in the Lord Jesus. [RHQ]

1 Corinthians 10:33Do as I do. I try to please everyone in every way. I do this by not seeking to benefit myself. Instead, I try to benefit many others, in order that they may be saved {that God may save them} from the guilt of their sins.

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 9:16-19

The Apostle's Devotedness. ( a. d. 57.) 15 But 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. 16 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! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is… Read the whole commentary →

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