1 Corinthians 9:17

17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

1 Corinthians 9:17 in Other Translations

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.

17 If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid?

17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.

1 Corinthians 9:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I do this thing willingly
That is, not freely and without receiving anything for preaching, without seeking any temporal profits and advantages; nor in pure love to Christ, and the good of souls, without any fear of punishment, or hope of reward; but the apostle supposes a case which was not, and his sense is, that supposing no necessity had been laid upon him, or any injunction or command given him to preach the Gospel, but he had entered on it without any obligation upon him, then, says he,

I have a reward;
or should have one, or might expect one; so the Jews ^F17 say, that a reward is given to him, who does anything unbidden:

but if against my will,
or unwillingly,

a dispensation of the Gospel is committed to me;
which was his case; the Gospel was committed to his trust, as anything is to the trust and charge of a steward by his lord, who is obliged to take care of it, and is accountable for it, and of whom faithfulness is required; he did not undertake this economy, or dispensation of the Gospel of himself, of his own mind and will, but it was enjoined him by one that had the command over him, and could and did oblige him to take the charge of it; though he made him willing, as well as able to do it: and therefore since this was the case, that it was not at his own option whether he would preach the Gospel or not, but he was obliged to it by one, that had a superior power and influence over him; hence, though he performed it ever so well, and with never so much faithfulness and integrity, he asks in the following verse,

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Maimon. apud Hammond in loc.

1 Corinthians 9:17 In-Context

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.

16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.

18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Corinthians 3:8,14
• 2. 1 Corinthians 4:1; Galatians 2:7; Colossians 1:25