The Rights of an Apostle

1 Corinthians 9:18

In 9 translations

BSB: What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
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.
WEB: What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
ASV: What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.
LSV: What, then, is my reward? That proclaiming good news, without charge I will make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;
YLT: What, then, is my reward? — that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;
DBY: What is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless [to others], so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in [announcing] the glad tidings.
DRC: What is my reward then? That preaching the gospel, I may deliver the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
GNV: What is my reward then? verely that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authoritie in ye Gospel.

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Where the editions differ

Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →

NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles read μού (“of me”); Textus Receptus, Byzantine text read μοί (“to me”).
In STEPBible’s comparison, Textus Receptus, Byzantine text include τοῦ Χριστοῦ (“of the Christ”); NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles do not include this wording.

SBLGNT apparatus (2)

A comparison of published Greek editions. “Add” means after the SBLGNT wording; “omit” refers to that wording.

SBLGNT: μού. Westcott and Hort (1881), Tregelles, Nestle–Aland 28th edition read μού; Robinson–Pierpont read μοί.
SBLGNT: εὐαγγέλιον. Westcott and Hort (1881), Tregelles, Nestle–Aland 28th edition read εὐαγγέλιον; Robinson–Pierpont add τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.

Original-language editions

SBLGNT: τίς οὖν μού ἐστιν ὁ μισθός; ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, εἰς τὸ μὴ καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.
RP2018: Τίς οὖν μοί ἐστιν ὁ μισθός; Ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ χριστοῦ, εἰς τὸ μὴ καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.
TR-Boyd: Τίς οὖν μοί ἐστιν ὁ μισθός; Ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς τὸ μὴ καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.
SCR1894: τις ουν μοι εστιν ο μισθος ινα ευαγγελιζομενος αδαπανον θησω το ευαγγελιον του χριστου εις το μη καταχρησασθαι τη εξουσια μου εν τω ευαγγελιω

Who and where

👤 Jesus Christ

People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

Gospel Abuse Evil Charge; Chargeable Scribes Self-Denial Corinthians, First Epistle to the Authority in Religion Zeal, Religious Ministers

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

2 Corinthians 11:7–9Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you. And when I was with you…
2 Thessalonians 3:8–9nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as…
1 Corinthians 10:33as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 8:9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
2 Corinthians 12:13–18In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your…
1 Corinthians 9:6–7Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
1 Corinthians 7:31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Romans 14:15If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).