1 Corinthians 9:18
New International Version
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

New Living Translation
What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

English Standard Version
What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Berean Standard Bible
What 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.

Berean Literal Bible
What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel, I should offer the gospel free of charge, so as not to use up my right in the gospel.

King James Bible
What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

New King James Version
What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

New American Standard Bible
What, then, is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

NASB 1995
What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

NASB 1977
What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Legacy Standard Bible
What then is my reward? That, when I proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my authority in the gospel.

Amplified Bible
What then is my reward? [Just this:] that, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge [to everyone], so as not to take advantage of my rights [as a preacher and apostle] in [preaching] the gospel.

Christian Standard Bible
What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

American Standard Version
What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
What therefore is my reward? When I evangelize, I may make The Gospel of The Messiah without expense and I do not use the authority that he gives to me in The Gospel.

Contemporary English Version
What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher.

Douay-Rheims Bible
What is my reward then? That preaching the gospel, I may deliver the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

English Revised Version
What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So what is my reward? It is to spread the Good News free of charge. In that way I won't use the rights that belong to those who spread the Good News.

Good News Translation
What pay do I get, then? It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel.

International Standard Version
What, then, is my reward? It is to be able to preach the gospel free of charge, and so I never resort to demanding my rights when I'm preaching the gospel.

Literal Standard Version
What, then, is my reward? That proclaiming good news, without charge I will make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;

Majority Standard Bible
What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer the gospel of Christ free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

New American Bible
What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

NET Bible
What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

New Revised Standard Version
What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

New Heart English Bible
What then is my reward? That, when I proclaim the Good News, I may present the Good News without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.

Webster's Bible Translation
What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my power in the gospel.

Weymouth New Testament
What are my wages then? The very fact that the Good News which I preach will cost my hearers nothing, so that I cannot be charged with abuse of my privileges as a Christian preacher.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
What, then, is my reward? -- that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Rights of an Apostle
17If 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. 19Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.…

Cross References
John 4:36
Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.

Acts 18:3
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 7:31
and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

1 Corinthians 9:12
If others have this right to your support, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:15
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

1 Corinthians 9:17
If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.


Treasury of Scripture

What is my reward then? Truly that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

when.

1 Corinthians 9:6,7
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? …

1 Corinthians 10:33
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

2 Corinthians 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

that I.

1 Corinthians 7:31
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

1 Corinthians 8:9
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Romans 14:15
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Jump to Previous
Abuse Announcing Authority Charge Charged Christ Christian Cost Fact Free Full Glad Good Gospel Hearers Making News Offer Others Payment Power Preach Preacher Preaching Present Privileges Proclaiming Reward Right Rights Tidings Use Verily Wages
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Abuse Announcing Authority Charge Charged Christ Christian Cost Fact Free Full Glad Good Gospel Hearers Making News Offer Others Payment Power Preach Preacher Preaching Present Privileges Proclaiming Reward Right Rights Tidings Use Verily Wages
1 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.














(18) What is my reward then?--It seems better to omit the note of interrogation, and read the whole verse thus:--What reward then is to be mine, so that (i.e., which induces me) in preaching the gospel I make the gospel without charge (to my hearers), so that I use not my power in the gospel? The "power" being the right to support maintained in 1Corinthians 9:6; 1Corinthians 9:12.

Verse 18. - What is my reward then? The answer is that it was not such "wages" as would ordinarily be considered such, but it was the happiness of preaching the gospel without cost to any. I abuse not; rather, I use not to the full, as in 1 Corinthians 7:31. It may be said that this was a ground of boasting, not a reward. It was, however, a point to which St. Paul attached the highest importance (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 11:7-12; Acts 20:33, 34), and he might therefore speak of it, though almost with a touch of half unconscious irony, as his "fee." There is no need to adopt the construction suggested by Meyer: "What is my reward? [none] that I may preach gratuitously;" or that of Afford, who finds the reward in the next verse.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
What
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

then
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

my
μού (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

reward?
μισθός (misthos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3408: (a) pay, wages, salary, (b) reward, recompense, punishment. Apparently a primary word; pay for service, good or bad.

That
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

in preaching the gospel
εὐαγγελιζόμενος (euangelizomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2097: From eu and aggelos; to announce good news especially the gospel.

I may offer
θήσω (thēsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

[it]
εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2098: From the same as euaggelizo; a good message, i.e. The gospel.

free of charge,
ἀδάπανον (adapanon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 77: Without expense, for which nothing has to be paid. Costless, i.e. Gratuitous.

and so
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

use up
καταχρήσασθαι (katachrēsasthai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Strong's 2710: To use to the full, use up. From kata and chraomai; to overuse, i.e. Misuse.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

rights
ἐξουσίᾳ (exousia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[preaching]
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[it].
εὐαγγελίῳ (euangeliō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2098: From the same as euaggelizo; a good message, i.e. The gospel.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 9:18 What then is my reward? That when (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 9:17
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