For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
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.
- KJV 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.
- BSB If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
- 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 to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision
- 1 Cor 3:8Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
- Matt 10:41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- 1 Chr 28:9You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
- Col 1:25of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,
- 1 Pet 5:2–4Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
- 1 Chr 29:9Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
- 1 Th 2:4But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
- Neh 11:2The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.
- 1 Cor 4:1So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
- 1 Chr 29:5of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to Yahweh?”
- 1 Cor 3:14If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
- Isa 6:8I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. 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; and Yahweh’s hand was strong on me.
- Jer 20:9If I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I can’t.
- 2 Cor 8:12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
- Jonah 1:3But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh.
- Matt 24:25“Behold, I have told you beforehand.
- Jonah 4:1–3But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
- Exod 4:13–14He said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”
- Phlm 1:14But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
- 1 Cor 9:16For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.
- Eph 3:2–8if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;
- Mal 1:10“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
- Luke 12:42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
- 1 Tim 1:11–13according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
- Phil 1:16–17The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
- 1 Chr 29:14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
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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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