KJV: 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.
YLT: 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;
Darby: What is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless to others, so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in announcing the glad tidings.
ASV: 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.
| μού | of me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| μισθός | reward |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: μισθός Sense: dues paid for work. |
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| ἵνα | That |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
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| εὐαγγελιζόμενος | in preaching the gospel |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: εὐαγγελίζω Sense: to bring good news, to announce glad tidings. |
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| ἀδάπανον | free of charge |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ἀδάπανος Sense: without expense, requiring no outlay, costing nothing. |
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| θήσω | I should offer |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular Root: τίθημι Sense: to set, put, place. |
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| εὐαγγέλιον | gospel |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: εὐαγγέλιον Sense: a reward for good tidings. |
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| εἰς | so as |
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Parse: Preposition Root: εἰς Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among. |
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| τὸ | - |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| καταχρήσασθαι | to use up |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle Root: καταχράομαι Sense: to use much or excessively or ill. |
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| ἐξουσίᾳ | right |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ἐξουσία Sense: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases. |
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| μου | of me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| εὐαγγελίῳ | gospel |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular Root: εὐαγγέλιον Sense: a reward for good tidings. |
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Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 9:18
Εις το Eis to for purpose with articular infinitive and perfective use of κατα kata (as in 1 Corinthians 7:31) with χρησασται chrēsasthai (first aorist middle infinitive). [source]
See on 1 Corinthians 7:31. Rev., correctly, use to the full. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 9:18
Carrying out the thought of servant in 1 Corinthians 9:18. “He refuses payment in money that he may make the greater gain in souls. But the gain is that which a faithful steward makes, not for himself, but for his master” (Edwards). The word is not, as Godet, to be limited to its purely natural meaning, but is used in the sense of Matthew 18:15; 1 Peter 3:1. [source]
Only here and 1 Corinthians 9:18. The verb means to use up or consume by using. Hence the sense of misuse by overuse. So A.V. and Rev., abuse. But the American Rev., and Rev. at 1 Corinthians 9:18, use to the full, thus according better with the preceding antitheses, which do not contrast what is right and wrong in itself (as use and abuse), but what is right in itself with what is proper under altered circumstances. In ordinary cases it is right for Christians to sorrow; but they should live now as in the near future, when earthly sorrow is to be done away. It is right for them to live in the married state, but they should “assimilate their present condition” to that in which they neither marry nor are given in marriage. [source]
Late compound verb from δουλαγωγος doulagōgos in Diodorus Siculus, Epictetus and substantive in papyri. It is the metaphor of the victor leading the vanquished as captive and slave. Lest by any means (μη πως mē pōs). Common conjunction for negative purpose with subjunctive as here (γενωμαι genōmai second aorist middle). After that I have preached to others First aorist active participle of κηρυσσω kērussō (see note on 1 Corinthians 1:23), common verb to preach, from word κηρυχ kērux (herald) and that is probably the idea here. A κηρυχ kērux at the games announced the rules of the game and called out the competitors. So Paul is not merely a herald, but a competitor also. I myself should be rejected (αυτος αδοκιμος γενωμαι autos adokimos genōmai). Literally, “I myself should become rejected.” Αδοκιμος Adokimos is an old adjective used of metals, coin, soil (Hebrews 6:8) and in a moral sense only by Paul in N.T. (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5-7; Romans 1:28; Titus 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:8). It means not standing the test (δοκιμος dokimos from δοκιμαζω dokimazō). Paul means rejected for the prize, not for the entrance to the race. He will fail to win if he breaks the rules of the game (Matthew 7:22.). What is the prize before Paul? Is it that reward (μιστος misthos) of which he spoke in 1 Corinthians 9:18, his glorying of preaching a free gospel? So Edwards argues. Most writers take Paul to refer to the possibility of his rejection in his personal salvation at the end of the race. He does not claim absolute perfection (Philemon 3:12) and so he presses on. At the end he has serene confidence (2 Timothy 4:7) with the race run and won. It is a humbling thought for us all to see this wholesome fear instead of smug complacency in this greatest of all heralds of Christ. [source]
First aorist active participle of κηρυσσω kērussō (see note on 1 Corinthians 1:23), common verb to preach, from word κηρυχ kērux (herald) and that is probably the idea here. A κηρυχ kērux at the games announced the rules of the game and called out the competitors. So Paul is not merely a herald, but a competitor also. I myself should be rejected (αυτος αδοκιμος γενωμαι autos adokimos genōmai). Literally, “I myself should become rejected.” Αδοκιμος Adokimos is an old adjective used of metals, coin, soil (Hebrews 6:8) and in a moral sense only by Paul in N.T. (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5-7; Romans 1:28; Titus 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:8). It means not standing the test (δοκιμος dokimos from δοκιμαζω dokimazō). Paul means rejected for the prize, not for the entrance to the race. He will fail to win if he breaks the rules of the game (Matthew 7:22.). What is the prize before Paul? Is it that reward (μιστος misthos) of which he spoke in 1 Corinthians 9:18, his glorying of preaching a free gospel? So Edwards argues. Most writers take Paul to refer to the possibility of his rejection in his personal salvation at the end of the race. He does not claim absolute perfection (Philemon 3:12) and so he presses on. At the end he has serene confidence (2 Timothy 4:7) with the race run and won. It is a humbling thought for us all to see this wholesome fear instead of smug complacency in this greatest of all heralds of Christ. [source]
Literally, “I myself should become rejected.” Αδοκιμος Adokimos is an old adjective used of metals, coin, soil (Hebrews 6:8) and in a moral sense only by Paul in N.T. (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5-7; Romans 1:28; Titus 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:8). It means not standing the test Paul means rejected for the prize, not for the entrance to the race. He will fail to win if he breaks the rules of the game (Matthew 7:22.). What is the prize before Paul? Is it that reward (μιστος misthos) of which he spoke in 1 Corinthians 9:18, his glorying of preaching a free gospel? So Edwards argues. Most writers take Paul to refer to the possibility of his rejection in his personal salvation at the end of the race. He does not claim absolute perfection (Philemon 3:12) and so he presses on. At the end he has serene confidence (2 Timothy 4:7) with the race run and won. It is a humbling thought for us all to see this wholesome fear instead of smug complacency in this greatest of all heralds of Christ. [source]