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1 Corinthians 9:17

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.
1 Corinthians 9:17 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
  • BSB If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
  • NKJV For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
  • NASB For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless.
  • NLT 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.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

If Paul preached by his own choice he would earn a reward, but since he is entrusted with a stewardship, he is simply discharging a duty. He serves as a steward under obligation to his Master.

Overview

Paul frames his ministry as a "stewardship"—a trust committed to him by God, which he is bound to carry out faithfully. A steward earns no special merit merely for doing what he is commissioned to do. This humbles any notion of personal credit and locates Paul's distinctive "reward" elsewhere: in the privilege of offering the gospel without charge, as the next verse explains.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 28

  • Gal 2:7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
  • 1 Cor 3:8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
  • Matt 10:41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
  • 1 Chr 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
  • Col 1:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
  • 1 Pet 5:2–4Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
  • 1 Chr 29:9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
  • 1 Th 2:4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
  • Neh 11:2And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
  • 1 Cor 4:1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
  • 1 Chr 29:5The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
  • 1 Cor 3:14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
  • Isa 6:8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
  • Ezek 3:14So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
  • Jer 20:9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
  • 2 Cor 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
  • Jonah 1:3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
  • Matt 24:25Behold, I have told you before.
  • Jonah 4:1–3But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
  • Exod 4:13–14And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
  • Phlm 1:14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
  • 1 Cor 9:16For 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!
  • Eph 3:2–8If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
  • Mal 1:10Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
  • Luke 12:42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
  • 1 Tim 1:11–13According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
  • Phil 1:16–17The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
  • 1 Chr 29:14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

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Christ at the center

Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.

How 1 Corinthians 9:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

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