Focused Passage

1 Corinthians 9:15-18

Rights Surrendered, the Gospel Advanced, and Discipline for the Prize

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

ButδὲG1161ConjunctionIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularvvvοὐG3756Adverbhave not usedκέχρημαιG5530Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular[any]οὐδενὶG3762Adjective - Dative Masculine Singularof these [rights]τούτωνG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter PluralAndδὲG1161ConjunctionvvvοὐκG3756AdverbI am not writingἔγραψαG1125Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularthisταῦταG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Pluralto suggest thatἵναG2443ConjunctionsomethingοὕτωςG3779Adverbbe doneγένηταιG1096Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person SingularforἐνG1722PrepositionmeἐμοίG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularIndeedγάρG1063ConjunctionIμοιG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singularwould ratherμᾶλλονG3123Adverb. . .καλὸνG2570Adjective - Nominative Neuter SingulardieἀποθανεῖνG599Verb - Aorist Infinitive ActivethanG2228Conjunction{let} anyoneοὐδεὶςG3762Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularnullifyκενώσειG2758Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularmyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingularboastκαύχημάG2745Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 16

Original words

YetγὰρG1063ConjunctionwhenἘὰνG1437ConjunctionI preach the gospelεὐαγγελίζωμαιG2097Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person SingularIμοιG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularhaveἔστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularno reasonοὐκG3756Adverbto boastκαύχημαG2745Noun - Nominative Neuter SingularbecauseγάρG1063ConjunctionIμοιG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singularam obligated [to preach]ἀνάγκηG318Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular. . .ἐπίκειταιG1945Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular-γάρG1063ConjunctionWoeοὐαὶG3759Interjection-ἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularto meμοίG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person SingularifἐὰνG1437ConjunctionvvvμὴG3361AdverbI do not preach the gospelεὐαγγελίσωμαιG2097Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular
Verse 17

Original words

-γὰρG1063ConjunctionIfεἰG1487ConjunctionmyπράσσωG4238Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular[preaching]τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular[is] voluntaryἑκὼνG1635Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularI haveἔχωG2192Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singulara rewardμισθὸνG3408Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularButδὲG1161ConjunctionifεἰG1487Conjunction[it is] not voluntaryἄκωνG210Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularI am [still] entrusted withπεπίστευμαιG4100Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular[a] responsibilityοἰκονομίανG3622Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

WhatτίςG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingularthenοὖνG3767ConjunctionisἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularmyμούG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularrewardμισθόςG3408Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularThatἵναG2443Conjunctionin preaching the gospelεὐαγγελιζόμενοςG2097Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine SingularI may offerθήσωG5087Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Singular[it]εὐαγγέλιονG2098Noun - Accusative Neuter Singularfree of chargeἀδάπανονG77Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singularand soεἰςG1519PrepositionnotμὴG3361Adverb-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Singularuse upκαταχρήσασθαιG2710Verb - Aorist Infinitive MiddlemyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine SingularrightsἐξουσίᾳG1849Noun - Dative Feminine SingularinἐνG1722Preposition[preaching]τῷG3588Article - Dative Neuter Singular[it]εὐαγγελίῳG2098Noun - Dative Neuter Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.