New International Version If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. New Living Translation If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. English Standard Version For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. Berean Standard Bible If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. Berean Literal Bible For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. King James Bible 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. New King James Version For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. New American Standard Bible For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless. NASB 1995 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. NASB 1977 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. Legacy Standard Bible For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. Amplified Bible For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship. Berean Annotated Bible If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. Christian Standard Bible For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission. Holman Christian Standard Bible For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship. American Standard Version For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. Contemporary English Version If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don't want to, it is still something God has sent me to do. English Revised Version For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. GOD'S WORD® Translation If I spread the Good News willingly, I'll have a reward. But if I spread the Good News unwillingly, I'm [only] doing what I've been entrusted to do. Good News Translation If I did my work as a matter of free choice, then I could expect to be paid; but I do it as a matter of duty, because God has entrusted me with this task. International Standard Version For if I preach voluntarily, I get a reward, but if I am unwilling to do it, I am still entrusted with that obligation. NET Bible For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. New Heart English Bible 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. Webster's Bible Translation For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me. Weymouth New Testament And if I preach willingly, I receive my wages; but if against my will, a stewardship has nevertheless been entrusted to me. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor if I do this willingly, I have a reward; and if unwillingly—I have been entrusted with a stewardship! Berean Literal Bible For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. Young's Literal Translation for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted! Smith's Literal Translation For if of free will I do this, I have reward: and if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation is committed to me: Catholic Public Domain Version For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if I do this reluctantly, a dispensation is granted to me. New American Bible If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. New Revised Standard Version For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor if I do this thing willingly, I have my reward: but if against my will, it is like a stewardship intrusted to me. Aramaic Bible in Plain English For if I do this with my pleasure, I have a reward, but if without my pleasure, I am entrusted with a stewardship. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, an apostolic stewardship has been intrusted to me. Godbey New Testament For if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if unwillingly, I have been intrusted with a dispensation. Haweis New Testament For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with the dispensation of it. Mace New Testament now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged. Weymouth New Testament And if I preach willingly, I receive my wages; but if against my will, a stewardship has nevertheless been entrusted to me. Worrell New Testament For, if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but, if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. Worsley New Testament Now if I do this willingly, I have a reward; and if unwillingly, yet I am intrusted with the commission, and I must execute it. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Rights of an Apostle…16Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. 18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.… Cross References If my preaching is voluntary, 1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!” I have a reward. Colossians 3:24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. But if it is not voluntary, Acts 4:20 For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Jeremiah 20:9 If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. Amos 3:8 The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy? I am still entrusted with a responsibility. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. / Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Peter 4:10 As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. Galatians 2:7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 1 Timothy 1:11-12 that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. / I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: / that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Treasury of Scripture For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me. if I. 1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 1 Chronicles 29:5,9,14 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? … Nehemiah 11:2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. have. 1 Corinthians 3:8,14 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour… Matthew 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. against. Exodus 4:13,14 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send… Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Ezekiel 3:14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. dispensation. 1 Corinthians 9:16 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! 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Matthew 24:25 Behold, I have told you before. Jump to Previous Administration Commission Committed Discharging Dispensation Entrusted Gladly Gospel Intrusted Nevertheless Orders Preach Receive Reward Simply Stewardship Trust Voluntarily Wages Willing WillinglyJump to Next Administration Commission Committed Discharging Dispensation Entrusted Gladly Gospel Intrusted Nevertheless Orders Preach Receive Reward Simply Stewardship Trust Voluntarily Wages Willing Willingly1 Corinthians 9 1. He shows his liberty;7. and that the minister ought to receive a living by the Gospel; 15. yet that himself has of his own accord abstained, 18. to be neither chargeable unto them, 22. nor offensive unto any, in matters indifferent. 24. Our life is like unto a race. If my preaching is voluntary, Paul refers to serving beyond mere obligation, especially by preaching the gospel without claiming financial support from the Corinthians. In doing so, he receives the reward of offering the gospel freely. 1Pe 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you,… I have a reward. His reward is connected to faithful service and the privilege of seeing the gospel advance without placing a burden on those he serves. Col 3:24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance… But if it is not voluntary, Paul’s apostolic calling was not optional. Christ had commissioned him to preach, and he could not set aside that responsibility. Act 4:20 For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen… I am still entrusted with a responsibility. Whether willing or compelled, Paul remained a steward of the gospel. God had placed the message in his care, and Paul would answer to Him for carrying out that commission faithfully. 1Co 4:1-2 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ… Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul the ApostleThe author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth. He discusses his role and responsibilities as a preacher of the Gospel. 2. Corinth A major city in ancient Greece, known for its diverse population and significant trade. The church in Corinth faced various challenges, including issues of division and immorality. 3. The Corinthian Church The recipients of Paul's letter, a community of believers struggling with understanding their roles and responsibilities in the faith. Teaching Points Voluntary Service and RewardPaul distinguishes between voluntary and involuntary service. Voluntary service in ministry is often accompanied by a sense of personal fulfillment and reward. Believers are encouraged to serve willingly, recognizing the eternal rewards that come from God. Entrusted Responsibility Even when service is not voluntary, it remains a divine responsibility. Christians are called to be faithful stewards of the Gospel, understanding that God has entrusted them with a significant mission. Faithfulness in Ministry Regardless of personal feelings, faithfulness in ministry is crucial. Paul exemplifies commitment to his calling, urging believers to remain steadfast in their duties. Divine Calling and Human Response The passage highlights the balance between God's calling and human response. While God initiates the call, individuals must respond with obedience and dedication. Stewardship of the Gospel Believers are entrusted with the Gospel, much like stewards with their master's possessions. This stewardship requires diligence, integrity, and a commitment to spreading the message of Christ. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 9:17?2. How does 1 Corinthians 9:17 emphasize the importance of willingly preaching the gospel? 3. What does "entrusted with a stewardship" mean in the context of this verse? 4. How can we apply Paul's sense of duty to our own ministry efforts? 5. Connect 1 Corinthians 9:17 with Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. 6. How does this verse challenge us to examine our motivations in serving God? 7. What does 1 Corinthians 9:17 reveal about the nature of divine calling and free will? 8. How does 1 Corinthians 9:17 challenge the concept of personal ambition in ministry? 9. What historical context influenced Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 9:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Corinthians 9? (17) For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward.--The previous words, "Yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel," are a parenthesis; and now the writer proves the truth of his assertion--that the necessity of preaching the gospel deprives the mere act itself of any grounds of boasting--by showing that if there were no necessity there would be a ground of boasting. The argument is this:--Suppose it to be otherwise, and that there is no such necessity, then, by voluntarily undertaking it, I have a reward. The undertaking it of my own free will would entitle me to a reward. But if (as is the case) not of my free will, but of necessity, then I am merely a steward--a slave doing his duty (1Corinthians 4:1; Luke 17:7-10). A dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.--Better, I am entrusted with a stewardship. Verse 17. - If I do this thing willingly. The word rather means "spontaneously;" "without compulsion." He was preaching willingly, but still it was in obedience to an irresistible behest (Acts 9:6, 15). I have a reward. The reward (or rather, "wage ") of such self chosen work would be the power to fulfil it (comp. Matthew 6:1). Against my will; rather, involuntarily, "under Divine constraint." A dispensation. He was appointed a "steward" or "dispenser" of the gospel, and could only regard himself at the best as "an unprofitable slave," who had done merely what it was his bare duty to do (Luke 17:10). There is no merit in yielding to a must. 1 Corinthians 9:17 holds two complementary truths: willing service wins a reward, and compelled service still carries a sacred trust. Paul invites us to embrace both—eagerly offering ourselves, yet remembering that even on the hard days we are stewards who must be faithful.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Ifεἰ (ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. my πράσσω (prassō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 4238: To do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require. [preaching] τοῦτο (touto) Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. [is] voluntary, ἑκὼν (hekōn) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 1635: Willing, willingly, voluntarily. Of uncertain affinity; voluntary. I have ἔχω (echō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. a reward. μισθὸν (misthon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 3408: (a) pay, wages, salary, (b) reward, recompense, punishment. Apparently a primary word; pay for service, good or bad. But δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. if εἰ (ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. [it is] not voluntary, ἄκων (akōn) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 210: Unwilling, generally used where English would express by an adverb: unwillingly. Unwilling. I am [still] entrusted with πεπίστευμαι (pepisteumai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. [a] responsibility. οἰκονομίαν (oikonomian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3622: Management of household affairs, stewardship, administration. From oikonomos; administration; specially, a 'economy'. Additonal Resources 1 Corinthians 9:17 Blue Letter Bible1 Corinthians 9:17 Bible Gateway 1 Corinthians 9:17 Bible.com 1 Corinthians 9:17 NIV |
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