1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 9:15–18
15But 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.
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! 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.
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
1 Corinthians 9:15
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| But | δὲ | de | Conjunction | G1161 but, on the other hand, and |
| I | ἐγὼ | egō | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| have not used | κέχρημαι | kechrēmai | Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular | G5530 I use, make use of, deal with |
| of these | τούτων | toutōn | Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural | G3778 this, he, she, it |
| And | δὲ | de | Conjunction | G1161 but, on the other hand, and |
| I am not writing | ἔγραψα | egrapsa | Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular | G1125 I write |
| this | ταῦτα | tauta | Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural | G3778 this, he, she, it |
| to suggest that | ἵνα | hina | Conjunction | G2443 in order that, so that |
| something | οὕτως | houtōs | Adverb | G3779 thus, so, in this manner |
| be done | γένηται | genētai | Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular | G1096 I come into being, am born |
| for | ἐν | en | Preposition | G1722 in, on, among |
| me | ἐμοί | emoi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| Indeed | γάρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| I | μοι | moi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| would rather | μᾶλλον | mallon | Adverb | G3123 more, rather |
| die | ἀποθανεῖν | apothanein | Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active | G599 I am dying, am about to die |
| than | ἢ | ē | Conjunction | G2228 or, than |
| anyone | οὐδεὶς | oudeis | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3762 no one, none, nothing |
| nullify | κενώσει | kenōsei | Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G2758 I empty, deprive of content, make unreal |
| my | μου | mou | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| boast | καύχημά | kauchēma | Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G2745 a boasting |
1 Corinthians 9:16
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yet | γὰρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| when | Ἐὰν | Ean | Conjunction | G1437 if |
| I preach the gospel | εὐαγγελίζωμαι | euangelizōmai | Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular | G2097 I bring good news, preach good tidings |
| I | μοι | moi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| have | ἔστιν | estin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1510 I am, exist |
| no reason | οὐκ | ouk | Adverb | G3756 no, not |
| to boast | καύχημα | kauchēma | Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular | G2745 a boasting |
| because | γάρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| I | μοι | moi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| am obligated | ἀνάγκη | anankē | Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular | G318 necessity, constraint, compulsion |
| Woe | οὐαὶ | ouai | Interjection | G3759 woe!, alas! |
| to me | μοί | moi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| if | ἐὰν | ean | Conjunction | G1437 if |
| I do not preach the gospel | εὐαγγελίσωμαι | euangelisōmai | Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular | G2097 I bring good news, preach good tidings |
1 Corinthians 9:17
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If | εἰ | ei | Conjunction | G1487 if |
| my | πράσσω | prassō | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular | G4238 I do, fare, require |
| voluntary | ἑκὼν | hekōn | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular | G1635 willing, willingly |
| I have | ἔχω | echō | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular | G2192 I have, hold, possess |
| a reward | μισθὸν | misthon | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G3408 wages, reward |
| But | δὲ | de | Conjunction | G1161 but, on the other hand, and |
| if | εἰ | ei | Conjunction | G1487 if |
| not voluntary | ἄκων | akōn | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular | G210 unwilling |
| I am | πεπίστευμαι | pepisteumai | Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular | G4100 I believe, have faith in |
| responsibility | οἰκονομίαν | oikonomian | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G3622 stewardship |
1 Corinthians 9:18
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What | τίς | tis | Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular | G5101 who, which, what |
| then | οὖν | oun | Conjunction | G3767 therefore, then |
| is | ἐστιν | estin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1510 I am, exist |
| my | μού | mou | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| reward | μισθός | misthos | Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3408 wages, reward |
| That | ἵνα | hina | Conjunction | G2443 in order that, so that |
| in preaching the gospel | εὐαγγελιζόμενος | euangelizomenos | Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular | G2097 I bring good news, preach good tidings |
| I may offer | θήσω | thēsō | Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular | G5087 I put, place |
| free of charge | ἀδάπανον | adapanon | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G77 without expense, free |
| and so | εἰς | eis | Preposition | G1519 into, in, among, till, for |
| not | μὴ | mē | Adverb | G3361 not, lest |
| use up | καταχρήσασθαι | katachrēsasthai | Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle | G2710 I use up |
| my | μου | mou | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular | G1473 I |
| rights | ἐξουσίᾳ | exousia | Noun - Dative Feminine Singular | G1849 power, authority, weight |
| in | ἐν | en | Preposition | G1722 in, on, among |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
1 Corinthians 9:15 1 Thessalonians 2:9 · 2 Thessalonians 3:8 · 1 Corinthians 9:12 · Acts 20:24 · 2 Corinthians 11:9–12 · Acts 18:3 · Acts 20:34 · 1 Corinthians 4:12 · Philippians 1:20–23 · 2 Corinthians 12:13–18 · Acts 8:3 · Matthew 18:6
1 Corinthians 9:16 Romans 1:14 · Jeremiah 20:9 · Colossians 4:17 · Luke 9:62 · Acts 26:16–20 · Acts 4:20 · Amos 3:8 · Acts 9:6 · Romans 15:17 · Acts 9:15 · Isaiah 6:5 · Romans 4:2
1 Corinthians 9:17 Galatians 2:7 · 1 Corinthians 3:8 · Colossians 1:25 · 1 Chronicles 28:9 · Matthew 10:41 · Isaiah 6:8 · Jeremiah 20:9 · 1 Corinthians 3:14 · 1 Chronicles 29:9 · 1 Chronicles 29:5 · 1 Thessalonians 2:4 · Nehemiah 11:2
1 Corinthians 9:18 2 Corinthians 11:7–9 · 1 Thessalonians 2:6 · 1 Corinthians 10:33 · 1 Corinthians 8:9 · 2 Thessalonians 3:8–9 · 2 Corinthians 12:13–18 · 1 Corinthians 9:6–7 · 1 Corinthians 7:31 · 2 Corinthians 4:5
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.