1 Corinthians 9:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

NIV: 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.

NASB: What, then, is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

CSB: What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

NLT: What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

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.

NKJV: What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Paul does not take any credit for the content of the gospel message about salvation through faith in Christ by God's grace. That all comes from God. He also does not take credit for the outcome of his preaching. More than that, he has stated flatly that he does not even take credit for his participation in preaching the gospel. He simply has no choice. He is compelled by Christ, as a trusted servant, to carry out this task. He receives no reward for it, as if it was his idea or something he did out of the nobility of his own heart.

Now he adds that he does receive a reward, in a sense. In refusing to exercise his right to receive financial support from those he serves, Paul can claim a degree of self-sacrifice. He gets to boast a bit: that he is legitimately giving up something for the Lord. This is not an arrogant, self-serving boast. It is a joyful claim that he is sacrificing something he is not required to give. God does not command Paul to turn down donations for his ministry; prior verses showed that God expects those served by ministers of the gospel to support those ministers (1 Corinthians 9:9, 14). Paul does so willingly and receives the reward of knowing that he is doing so.

He receives the award of gratification in giving away the good news about Jesus for free. In part, his reward includes the right to boast—righteously, in joy, not in arrogance—about this selfless action.

First Corinthians 9:1–18 describes Paul's case for why he, as an apostle, has the right to ask for financial support from the people he serves, including the Corinthian Christians. Though he could demand, Paul refuses to insist on his right. He doesn't want anything to get in the way of someone hearing the gospel. He must preach the gospel; he has no choice. But Paul wants to be able to boast about offering the gospel free of charge even though he has the right to ask for financial support. This passage establishes that believers have an obligation to support those who serve through ministry. This message is made more valid since Paul is not benefitting from his own argument.

Paul encourages Christians to willingly give up their ''rights'' for the good of those who are weak in their faith. Paul shows that he, too, has given up his rights, including the right as an apostle to receive financial support from those he serves. Instead, he boasts that he serves the Corinthians without any compensation, even at great cost to himself. Paul describes himself as an athlete competing for the prize of a crown in eternity. His point is for believers to pursue godliness, and the good of others, with that kind of commitment.

First Corinthians 8 ended with Paul's declaration that he would give up his right to eat any meat rather than cause a brother in Christ to stumble. He shows in this chapter that he is already giving up his right as an apostle to be financially supported by those he serves. He doesn't want anything to get in the way of anyone believing the gospel. He limits his freedoms further by becoming all things to all people to win some for Christ. He disciplines himself like an athlete in training, to get a prize and to avoid being disqualified. The next passages will expand on this idea of distinguishing what is ''allowed'' from what is ''best.''

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.