1 Corinthians 9:17-23
J.B. Phillips New Testament
My reward is to make the Gospel free to all men
16-23 For I take no special pride in the fact that I preach the Gospel. I feel compelled to do so; I should be utterly miserable if I failed to preach it. If I do this work because I choose to do so then I am entitled to a reward. But if it is no choice of mine, but a sacred responsibility put upon me, what can I expect in the way of reward? This, that when I preach the Gospel, I can make it absolutely free of charge, and need not claim what is my rightful due as a preacher. For though I am no man’s slave, yet I have made myself everyone’s slave, that I might win more men to Christ. To the Jews I was a Jew that I might win the Jews. To those who were under the Law I put myself in the position of being under the Law (although in fact I stand free of it), that I might win those who are under the Law. To those who had no Law I myself became like a man without the Law (even though in fact I cannot be a lawless man for I am bound by the law of Christ), so that I might win the men who have no Law. To the weak I became a weak man, that I might win the weak. I have, in short, been all things to all sorts of men that by every possible means I might win some to God. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel; I want to play my part in it properly.
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1 Corinthians 9:17-19
New International Version
17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(A) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(B) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(C) and so not make full use of my rights(D) as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free(E) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(F) to win as many as possible.(G)
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