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1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 9:1
Connecting Statement:
Paul explains how he uses the liberty he has in Christ.
Am I not free?
Paul uses this rhetorical question to remind the Corinthians of the rights he has. Alternate translation: "I am a free person." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Am I not an apostle?
Paul uses this rhetorical question to remind the Corinthians of who he is and the rights he has. Alternate translation: "I am an apostle." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?
Paul uses this rhetorical question to remind the Corinthians of who he is. Alternate translation: "I have seen Jesus our Lord." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Are you not my work in the Lord?
Paul uses this rhetorical question to remind the Corinthians of their relationship to him. Alternate translation: "You believe in Christ because I have worked the way the Lord wants me to." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
my work
"the result of the work that I have done"
1 Corinthians 9:2
you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord
The word "seal" here is a metaphor for the evidence needed to prove something. Alternate translation: "you are evidence I can use to prove that the Lord has chosen me to be an apostle" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
1 Corinthians 9:3
This is my defense ... me:
Possible meanings are 1) the words that follow are Paul's defense or 2) the words in 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 are Paul's defense. Alternate translation: "This is my defense ... me."
1 Corinthians 9:4
Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
Paul uses a rhetorical question to challenge what some people think about him and Barnabas. Alternate translation: "We have the right to receive food and drink from the churches." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
we
Here "we" refers to Paul and Barnabas. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
1 Corinthians 9:5
Do we not have the right to take along with us a sister wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
Paul uses a rhetorical question to challenge what some people think about him and Barnabas. Alternate translation: "We have the right to bring a sister wife along with us, just like the rest of the apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
sister wife
"a wife who is a believer" or "a Christian wife." This in no way implies that any of the men has more than one wife.
1 Corinthians 9:6
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no authority to not labor?
Paul uses a rhetorical question to challenge what some people think about him and Barnabas. Alternate translation: "You seem to think that Barnabas and I are the only people who have no authority to not labor." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
who have no authority to not labor
If this double negative causes confusion in your language, you can state it as a simple positive. Alternate translation: "whom God commands to labor" or "who must labor" or "who have the obligation to labor"
1 Corinthians 9:7
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "We all know that no soldier has to buy his own supplies." or "We all know that every soldier receives his supplies from the government." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "We all know that the one who plants a vineyard will be allowed to eat its fruit." or "No one expects that someone who plants a vineyard will be forbidden to eat its fruit." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink milk from it?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "We all know that those who shepherd flocks may drink milk from the flocks" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
1 Corinthians 9:8
Do I say these things based on human authority? Does not the law also say this?
Paul uses these rhetorical questions as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "I am not saying these things based on human authority. The law also says this." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
1 Corinthians 9:9
Do not put
Moses was speaking to the Israelites as if they were one person, so this command is singular. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
Is it really the oxen that God cares about?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "God does not only care about the oxen." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
1 Corinthians 9:10
Is he not speaking about us?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "Instead, God was certainly speaking about us." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
should plow in hope
"should plow, expecting to receive something for his work" or "should plow, expecting to share in the harvest"
should thresh in the hope of sharing in the harvest
"should thresh, expecting to share in the harvest"
sharing in the harvest
"receiving some of the crop that is collected"
1 Corinthians 9:11
If we sowed spiritual things among you, is it too much for us to reap material things from you?
Here "sowed spiritual things" and "reap material things" are metaphors meaning Paul and Barnabas taught the Corinthians about Christ and spiritual things, so they deserve for the church to support them for their work. Alternate translation: "If we taught you about Christ and spiritual truths, is it too much for us to receive money from you for our work? (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
is it too much for us to reap material things from you?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "then it should not be too much for us to reap material things from you." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
1 Corinthians 9:12
If others exercised ... you, do we not have even more?
Paul uses this rhetorical question as a part of his argument to show that he and Barnabas have the right to be supported by the church for their work. Alternate translation: "If others exercised ... you, then we have that right even more." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
If others exercised this right
Paul and the Corinthians both know that others exercised the right. Alternate translation: "Since others exercised this right" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
others
other workers of the gospel
this right
the right to have the believers at Corinth provide for the living expenses of those who told them the good news
be a hindrance to
"be a burden to" or "stop the spread of"
1 Corinthians 9:13
Do you not know that those who perform sacred duties get their food from the temple?
Paul uses a rhetorical question to remind the Corinthians of what they know so he can add new information. Alternate translation: "I want to remind you that those who perform sacred duties get their food from the temple." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
perform sacred duties
"perform sacred duties in the temple" or "work in the temple"
Do you not know that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?
Paul uses a rhetorical question to remind the Corinthians of what they know so he can add new information. Alternate translation: "I want to remind you that those who serve at the altar get some of the foods and meat that people offer on the altar." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
1 Corinthians 9:14
get their living from the gospel
The words "the gospel" here are a metonym for 1) the people to whom they tell the gospel, "receive their food and other things they need from those to whom they teach the good news," or 2) the result of working to tell the gospel, "receive their food and other things they need because they work to tell the good news." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
1 Corinthians 9:15
these rights
"these things that I deserve"
so something might be done for me
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so you will do something for me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
It would be better for me to die than—No one will deprive me of this boast!
Paul seems to have started a new sentence before finishing the first one. Some versions read, "It would be better for me to die than to have someone deprive me of this boast," as some versions read.
It would be better for me to
"I would rather." Paul is speaking of what he desires, not necessarily of what God thinks is best.
deprive me of this boast
"take away this opportunity I have to boast"
1 Corinthians 9:16
I must do this
"I must preach the gospel"
woe be to me if
"may I suffer misfortune if"
1 Corinthians 9:17
if I do this willingly
"if I preach willingly" or "if I preach because I want to"
But if not willingly
The words "I do this" are understood from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "But if I do this unwillingly" or "But if I do this even though I do not want to" or "But if I do this because I was forced to do it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
I still have a stewardship that was entrusted to me
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I still must complete this work that God entrusted to me" or "I still must do this work that God gave me to complete" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
1 Corinthians 9:18
What then is my reward?
Paul is preparing them for the new information he is going to give them. Alternate translation: "This is my reward." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
That when I preach, I may offer the gospel without charge
"My reward for preaching is that I can preach without receiving payment"
offer the gospel
"preach the gospel"
so not take full use of my right in the gospel
"so not ask people to support me as I travel and preach"
1 Corinthians 9:19
I am free from all
Paul uses the image of freedom from slavery to talk about not being obligated to others. Alternate translation: "I am free of obligation to all" or "Though I am not obligated to anyone" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I became a servant to all
Paul uses the image of slavery to talk about his willingness to meet others' needs. Alternate translation: "I became like a servant to all" or "I became willing to serve all" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
win more
"persuade others to believe" or "help others trust in Christ"
1 Corinthians 9:20
I became like a Jew
"I acted like a Jew" or "I practiced Jewish customs"
I became like one under the law
"I became like one committed to following the demands of the Jewish leadership, accepting their understanding of the Jewish scriptures"
1 Corinthians 9:21
To those outside the law, I became like one outside the law
To be "outside the law" is a metaphor that means not to be obligated to obey the law. "The "law" refers to the law of Moses, and "those outside the law" refers to the Gentiles. Alternate translation: "To Gentiles, who are not obligated to follow the law of Moses, I became like them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
although I was not outside the law of God myself, but under the law of Christ
The phrases "not outside the law" and "under the law" are metaphors that mean to be obligated to obey the law. Alternate translation: "although I was not one of those who is not obligated to obey the law of God, but I was obligated to obey the law of Christ" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
1 Corinthians 9:22
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1 Corinthians 9:23
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1 Corinthians 9:24
Connecting Statement:
Paul explains that he uses the liberty he has in Christ to discipline himself.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run the race, but that only one receives the prize?
Paul is reminding the Corinthians of what they know so he can add new information. Alternate translation: "Let me remind you that although all runners run the race, only one runner receives the prize." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
run the race
Paul compares living the Christian life and working for God to running a race and being an athlete. As in a race, the Christian life and work require strict discipline on the part of the runner, and, as in a race, the Christian has a specific goal. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
run to win the prize
Paul is speaking of the reward God will give his faithful people as if it were a prize given for an athletic contest. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
1 Corinthians 9:25
a wreath that is perishable ... one that is imperishable
A wreath is a bunch of leaves twisted together. Wreaths were given as prizes to athletes who won games and races. Paul speaks of eternal life as if it were a wreath that would never dry up. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
1 Corinthians 9:26
run ... box
These are both metaphors for living the Christian life and serving God by working as hard as one can to succeed and so gain something good and to avoid failing and so losing something good. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
run
This is running in a race to win a prize.
run, as not without purpose
If this double negative would confuse the reader in your language, you can state it as a simple positive. Alternate translation: "run: with purpose" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
box
to beat another person with the fists in a sporting contest
1 Corinthians 9:27
I myself may not be disqualified
This passive sentence can be rephrased to an active form. The judge of a race or competition is a metaphor for God. Alternate translation: "the judge will not disqualify me" or "God will not say that I have failed to obey the rules" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)