1 COR 9:1 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

In this section Paul responded to a claim by some of the Corinthians that he was not an apostle. First, he defended his calling and work as an apostle. Then he used himself as an example of someone who did not use his rights.

In chapter 8 and chapter 10 Paul talked about food offered to idols. In this chapter Paul said that he was an example of somebody who had the right to do anything. He was thinking about the right to eat any kind of food. Out of love for others he refrained from doing things that he had a right to do. Instead, he tried to act in a way that would lead others to Christ.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul’s rights as an apostle

Paul's example of not using his rights

Paragraph 9:1–2

In this paragraph Paul argued that he truly was an apostle and gave proof of his apostleship.

9:1a-d

In this verse there are four rhetorical questions which describe Paul’s authority as an apostle and why he acted as he did.

9:1a

Am I not free?

¶ I am a free person, am I not?
¶ Am I not free from the law? Yes I am.
¶ I am free. (CEV)

Am I not free?: This is the first of four rhetorical questions in 9:1.9:1 In some Greek manuscripts the first two questions are in reverse order. The KJV follows these manuscripts. It is recommended that you follow the order in the BSB, which is the same as that of the UBS Greek NT. Paul used this question as a strong statement that expects the response “yes.” He stated that he was free. Here are some ways to translate this strong statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Don’t you agree that I’m a free man? (GW)
Am I not free from the law?
Use a rhetorical question with its own response. For example:
Am I not a free person? Of course I am.
Use a strong statement. For example:
I am free (CEV)
Nothing controls me
I am free from the law

Translate this strong statement in a way that is natural in your language.

free: There are at least two ways to interpret the meaning of the word free.

Paul was free from the ceremonial law, and thus free to eat and drink what he liked. This refers back to chapter 8. This could be expressed as:
Am I not free from the law?9:1 See Thiselton, Robertson and Plummer, or Lenski.
Paul was free to not have to work for a living. This refers forward to 9:5–12. This could be expressed as:
Am I not free from working for my living?9:1 See Ellington & Hatton.

It is best to translate this in a way that allows for either interpretation, if possible. If you must make a choice, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the interpretation supported by several commentaries. The word free in this verse does not refer to freedom from slavery.

9:1b

Am I not an apostle?

I am an apostle, am I not?
I am a messenger of Christ.

Am I not an apostle?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a strong statement that expects the response “yes.” It introduces Paul’s proof that he was an apostle. He continued to make this point in 9:3–18. Here are some ways to translate this statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Don’t you agree that I am an apostle? (GW)
Do you think that I am not an apostle?
Use a rhetorical question with its own response. For example:
Am I not an apostle? Of course I am.
Use a strong statement. For example:
Certainly, I am an apostle

Translate this strong statement in a way that will help readers to think about Paul’s authority and his position as an apostle.

apostle: The word apostle means “a messenger.” It is someone who is sent on a mission or sent with a message. An apostle represents the people who sent him, and has their authority.

The “apostles” were the people whom Jesus sent with his authority to heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, and preach the good news of the Kingdom.

Here are some ways to translate the word apostle:

Translate the meaning of the Greek word apostle. For example:
messenger
representative
person sent to speak/act for Jesus
person with authority from Jesus
Indicate the role or function of apostles. For example:
chief leader of Jesus’ work
person who is in charge of Jesus’ work

Use the word for apostle that you used in the gospels. See for example, Matthew 10:2.

Be careful to choose different terms for apostle, “disciple,” “angel,” “elder,” and “prophet.”

See also the article in KBT about the term apostle.

9:1c

Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?

I have seen Jesus our^(incl) Lord, have I not?
I myself have seen our Lord Jesus.

Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a strong statement. He expected them to respond, “Yes, you have.” Here are some ways to translate this strong statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? (NLT)
Use a rhetorical question with its own response. For example:
Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Of course I have.
Use a statement. For example:
I myself have seen Jesus our Lord

Translate this strong statement in a way that is natural in your language.

One requirement for becoming an apostle was to see Jesus after his resurrection.9:1 See Acts 1:21–22. Paul saw Jesus when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Paul told them that he had seen Jesus in order to prove to them that he was an apostle. See Acts 9:1–6; 1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:11–17.

9:1d

Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

Are you^(plur) not the fruit of my work in the Lord?
You became followers of the Lord as a result of the work that he helped me to do, did you not?
You are my work in the Lord.

Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a strong statement. He expected them to respond, “Yes, we are.” Here are some ways to translate this strong statement:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord? (GNT)
Use a rhetorical question with its own response. For example:
Are you not my workmanship in the Lord? Of course you are.
Use a statement. For example:
You are my workmanship in the Lord

Translate this strong statement in a way that is natural in your language.

The second requirement for becoming an apostle was to receive a commission from the Lord Jesus to preach the gospel. Paul received that commission, and the Corinthians believed in the Lord Jesus through his message. See Acts 22:14–15, Galatians 1:15–16, and 1 Corinthians 2:1–5. So the Corinthians believers were proof that Paul was an apostle.

my workmanship: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as my workmanship is more literally “my work.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

You are the fruit of my work

Are you not my work in the Lord? (NJB)

Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? (NLT)

Translate this phrase so that the meaning is clear. Paul preached the gospel and the Corinthians became believers through hearing him preach. Here is another way to translate this:

I…have led you to have faith in him (CEV)

in the Lord: There are three ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in the Lord:

It means that Paul worked through the Lord. The Lord enabled Paul to do this work. For example:
aren’t you the result of my work which the Lord helped me to do?
It means that Paul worked for the Lord. For example:
aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord? (GNT) (GNT, GW)
It indicates that the Corinthians were in the Lord. For example:
Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? (NLT) (NLT, CEV)

It is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). This is supported by several commentaries.9:1 See, for example, Ellington & Hatton, page 193, which says, “In the Lord means in this context ‘by the Lord working through me.’” Most English versions translate this literally and it is not clear which view they support.

General Comment on 9:1a-d

In some languages it may not be natural to have four short sentences in a row like this. You may wish to combine two or more into a longer sentence. For example:

^1aI am free. ^1bI am an apostle. ^1cI have seen the Lord Jesus ^1dand have led you to have faith in him. (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος? οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος? οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν ἑόρακα? οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Κυρίῳ?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὐκ εἰμί ἐλεύθερος Οὐκ εἰμί ἀπόστολος Οὐχί Ἰησοῦν τόν Κύριον ἡμῶν ἑόρακα Οὒ τό ἔργον μού ὑμεῖς ἐστέ ἐν Κυρίῳ)

Paul does not ask these questions because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks them to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The questions assume that the answer to all of them is “yes.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express these questions by stating the ideas with strong affirmations. Alternate translation: [I certainly am free. I certainly am an apostle. I have certainly seen Jesus our Lord. You are certainly my work in the Lord.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐλεύθερος

free

Here, free could mean that Paul is free to: (1) eat whatever he wants. This connects this question with chapter 8. Alternate translation: [free to eat whatever I wish] (2) receive financial support from the believers he serves. This connects this question with the first half of this chapter. Alternate translation: [free to receive support from you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ ἔργον μου

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind work, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “labor.” Alternate translation: [whom I labor for]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸ ἔργον μου

Here, work refers to the result of the work. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express work by clarifying that what the work produced is the focus here. Alternate translation: [the result of my work]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Κυρίῳ

in ˓the˒_Lord

Here Paul uses the spatial metaphor in the Lord to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in the Lord, or united to the Lord, describes the work as what Paul does because of his union with the Lord. Alternate translation: [in union with the Lord] or [that I perform because I am united to the Lord]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:1

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

Paragraph 9:1–2

9:1a-d

9:1a

9:1b

9:1c

9:1d

General Comment on 9:1a-d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:1

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

Paragraph 9:1–2

9:1a-d

9:1a

9:1b

9:1c

9:1d

General Comment on 9:1a-d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:1