The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 9:16 Explained

1 Corinthians 9:16

KJV: 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!

YLT: for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

Darby: For if I announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.

ASV: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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! 

What does 1 Corinthians 9:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

He could not take justifiable pride in the fact that he preached the gospel, however. Even though it involved sacrificing for the benefit of others, he had made those sacrifices in obedience to the Lord ( Acts 26:16-18; cf. Matthew 28:19-20). He had no choice about preaching the gospel as he did about how he would live while he did so. Preaching was his divine destiny. Indeed he would be in serious trouble with his Lord if he did not preach the gospel. (And so will we.)

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 9:16-27 - "under Bondage To All"
Paul's one aim was to gain men. He uses the words repeatedly. To gain one more for his Lord, he would forego comfort, emolument, and well-earned repose. He would allow no competitor for an earthly prize to supersede himself in his sacrifices for this crown of rejoicing. He points to the denials, the hard training, and the severe discipline to which men who took part in the games subjected themselves. No one thought it strange that they should sacrifice so much for the chance of winning; why, then, should he be counted eccentric, who sought the certain reward of gaining new lovers of his Master's cross?
He tells us that he lived in constant dread of becoming a castaway. He had no fear of being rejected from God's love; but he feared lest God, who had used him so wonderfully, should cease to do so, and should cast him aside in favor of someone more unselfish, more pliant, more free from that which would excite prejudice. If Paul was so eager to surrender his rights and bruise his body that he might attain the prize of soul-winning, the question arises whether for our failure in these respects God may not be obliged to cast us on the rubbish-heap! [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 9:16

For if I preach [εαν γαρ ευαγγελιζωμαι]
Third class condition, supposable case. Same construction in 1 Corinthians 9:16 (εαν μη — ean mē). [source]
For necessity is laid upon me [αναγκη γαρ μοι επικειται]
Old verb, lies upon me (dative case μοι — moi). Jesus had called him (Acts 9:6, Acts 9:15; Galatians 1:15.; Romans 1:14). He could do no other and deserves no credit for doing it. Woe is me (ουαι γαρ μοι — ouai gar moi). Explaining the αναγκη — anagkē (necessity). Paul had to heed the call of Christ that he had heard. He had a real call to the ministry. Would that this were the case with every modern preacher. [source]
Woe is me [ουαι γαρ μοι]
Explaining the αναγκη — anagkē (necessity). Paul had to heed the call of Christ that he had heard. He had a real call to the ministry. Would that this were the case with every modern preacher. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 9:16

John 11:38 Again groaning in himself [παλιν εμβριμωμενος εν εαυτωι]
Direct reference to the use of this same word (present middle participle here) in John 11:33, only with εν εαυτωι — en heautōi (in himself) rather than τωι πνευματι — tōi pneumati (in his spirit), practically the same idea. The speculation concerning his power stirred the depths of his nature again. Cometh to the tomb Vivid historical present. A cave Old word (from σπεος — speos cavern). Cf. Matthew 21:13. Lay against it Imperfect middle of επικειμαι — epikeimai old verb to lie upon as in John 21:9 and figuratively (1 Corinthians 9:16). Note repetition of επι — epi with locative case. The use of a cave for burial was common (Genesis 23:19). Either the body was let down through a horizontal opening (hardly so here) or put in a tomb cut in the face of the rock (if so, επι — epi can mean “against”). The stones were used to keep away wild animals from the bodies. [source]
1 Corinthians 9:17 Reward []
Correlative with the second καύχημα somethingto glory of, in 1 Corinthians 9:16. [source]
1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach [εαν γαρ ευαγγελιζωμαι]
Third class condition, supposable case. Same construction in 1 Corinthians 9:16 (εαν μη — ean mē). [source]
Hebrews 9:10 Only with meats and drinks and divers washings [μονον επι βρωμασιν και πομασιν και διαποροις βαπτισμοις]
The parenthesis of the Revised Version here is unnecessary. The use of επι — epi here with the locative case is regular, “in the matter of” (Luke 12:52; John 12:16; Acts 21:24). What ritual value these Levitical sacrifices had was confined to minute regulations about diet and ceremonial cleansing (clean and unclean). For “divers” Carnal ordinances But the correct text is undoubtedly simply δικαιωματα σαρκος — dikaiōmata sarkos (nominative case), in apposition with δωρα τε και τυσιαι — dōra te kai thusiai (gifts and sacrifices). See Hebrews 9:1 for δικαιωματα — dikaiōmata Imposed Present middle or passive participle of επικειμαι — epikeimai old verb to lie upon (be laid upon). Cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16. Until a time of reformation Definite statement of the temporary nature of the Levitical system already stated in Hebrews 7:10-17; Hebrews 8:13 and argued clearly by Paul in Galatians 3:15-22. Διορτωσις — Diorthōsis is a late word, here alone in N.T. (from διορτοω — diorthoō to set right or straight), used by Hippocrates for making straight misshapen limbs like ανορτοω — anorthoō in Hebrews 12:12. Here for reformation like διορτωμα — diorthōma (reform) in Acts 24:2. Christianity itself is the great Reformation of the current Judaism (Pharisaism) and the spiritual Judaism foreshadowed by the old Abrahamic promise (see Gal 3; Rom 9). [source]
Jude 1:11 Woe [οὐαὶ]
Often used by our Lord, but never elsewhere except here and in the Apocalypse. The expression in 1 Corinthians 9:16is different. There the word is not used as an imprecation, but almost as a noun: “Woe is unto me.” So Numbers href="/desk/?q=nu+16:3&sr=1">Numbers 16:3). The water which Moses brought from the rock at Kadesh was called the water of Meribah (Strife )or, in Septuagint, ὕδωρ ἀντιλογίας , the water of contradiction. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 9:16 mean?

If for I preach the gospel nothing there is to me boasting necessity for me is laid upon Woe however to me be not I should preach the gospel
Ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται οὐαὶ γάρ μοί ἐστιν μὴ εὐαγγελίσωμαι

εὐαγγελίζωμαι  I  preach  the  gospel 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: εὐαγγελίζω  
Sense: to bring good news, to announce glad tidings.
οὐκ  nothing 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
ἔστιν  there  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
μοι  to  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
καύχημα  boasting 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: καύχημα  
Sense: that of which one glories or can glory, matter or ground of glorying.
ἀνάγκη  necessity 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀνάγκη  
Sense: necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one’s advantage, custom, argument.
μοι  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐπίκειται  is  laid  upon 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπίκειμαι  
Sense: to lie upon or over, rest upon, be laid or placed upon.
οὐαὶ  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: οὐαί  
Sense: alas, woe.
γάρ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: γάρ  
Sense: for.
μοί  to  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
εὐαγγελίσωμαι  I  should  preach  the  gospel 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: εὐαγγελίζω  
Sense: to bring good news, to announce glad tidings.