1 COR 9:17 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 9:15–18

This paragraph begins and ends with a reference to Paul’s right to be paid for preaching the gospel. In this paragraph he further explained his choice not to make use of this right. He stated this choice in emphatic terms in v. 15. He described this choice as “my boast.” He then explained that he does not boast about the fact that he preaches the Gospel. The Lord Jesus commanded him to preach. He had no choice, he must do it. His reward for his work is the satisfaction he gets from giving up his right.

9:17

In 9:16 Paul said that he was “compelled to preach.” In this verse he said more about that obligation with two contrastive sentences. Both are conditionals starting with the word “if.” The first sentence was not true of Paul, but the second sentence was true for Paul.

9:17a

If my preaching is voluntary,

If I did this because it was my own choice,
If I myself had chosen to proclaim the good news,

If my preaching is voluntary: The context indicates that Paul spoke of a situation that was not true for him. Preaching was not a free choice for him. He was “compelled to preach” because God had commanded it. Thus, the word If introduces an unfulfilled condition.9:17 See the GNT, REB, NJB, and NLT. Translate this using the forms that are natural in your language for referring to a situation that is not true. For example:

If I did it of my own choice (REB)

If I were doing this on my own initiative (NLT)

my preaching: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as my preaching is literally “I do this.” Some English versions make explicit that what Paul was doing was to preach. For example:

If I preach (NIV)

If I did my work (GNT)

It is recommended that you make the meaning clear with a word such as “preach.”

voluntary: The Greek word that the BSB translates as voluntary can also be translated as “willing.” Some other ways to translate this are:

because it is my own choice (NCV)

because I choose to do it

because I want to do it

9:17b

I have a reward.

then I could expect to receive something in return.
then I would have the right to receive payment.

I have a reward: If the condition in 9:17a were true, then Paul would expect a reward. However, the condition in 9:17a is not true. Use a form which indicates that this situation is not real in Paul’s case. For example:

I would have a reward

I would deserve to get paid

I would receive something in return

I would be given wages

9:17c

But if it is not voluntary,

But because it was not my choice/decision to preach, but the Lord told me to do it,
But in fact, I must preach the good news,

But if it is not voluntary: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as But if it is not voluntary is more literally “But if unwillingly.” The word But shows the contrast between the unfulfilled condition of 9:17a and the true condition of 9:17c. This was Paul’s actual situation. He did not choose to preach. He preached because the Lord told him to. Some other ways to translate this are:

but I preach because I must preach

but I do it as a matter of duty (GNT)

but since I have no choice (REB)

Like the phrase in 9:17a, this phrase in the Greek is a conditional. 9:17a describes an unfulfilled condition, a situation that is not true of Paul. 9:17c describes a true condition. It is true that Paul is doing his duty. Some ways to introduce this true condition are:

since (MSG)

because

if

9:17d

I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

I am only doing my duty/responsibility.
for the Lord has given me this work to do.

I am still entrusted with a responsibility: The Greek clause is more literally “I have been entrusted a responsibility.” This clause explains the meaning of preaching the gospel “unwillingly” (9:17c). Paul said that his preaching was a “trust” or a responsibility because his task came from God. The Greek text leaves this connection implicit. Use a connector in your translation that makes the meaning clear. Some ways to translate 9:17c-d are:

But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. (NLT)

But I do it as a matter of duty, because God has entrusted me with this task. (GNT)

a responsibility: God made Paul responsible for preaching the gospel. It was therefore his duty to do it. Some other ways to translate this word are:

trust (NIV)

duty (NCV)

what God asked me to do

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & ἑκὼν τοῦτο πράσσω, μισθὸν ἔχω; εἰ δὲ ἄκων, οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι

if & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ ἑκών τοῦτο πράσσω μισθόν ἔχω εἰ δέ ἄκων οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι)

Here Paul uses if to introduce two possibilities. He means that he might do this willingly, or he might do it unwillingly. He specifies a result for each option, but he implies that he does it unwillingly (See: the “compulsion” in [9:16](../09/16.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statements in a natural way in your language, such as by introducing them with “whenever.” Alternate translation: [were I to do this willingly, I would have a reward. But were it unwillingly, I would still have been entrusted with a stewardship]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

τοῦτο πράσσω

this ˱I˲_˓am˒_doing

Here, this refers back to “preaching the gospel” in [9:16](../09/16.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this by clarifying what it refers to. Alternate translation: [I preach the gospel]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

ἑκὼν & ἄκων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ ἑκών τοῦτο πράσσω μισθόν ἔχω εἰ δέ ἄκων οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι)

Here, willingly means that someone does something because they choose to, while unwillingly means that someone has to do something whether they choose to or not. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind willingly and unwillinglyby using two contrasting words that refer to whether someone chooses to do something or not. Alternate translation: [because I choose to … I do not choose to do it]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μισθὸν ἔχω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ ἑκών τοῦτο πράσσω μισθόν ἔχω εἰ δέ ἄκων οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind reward, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “reward” or “compensate.” Alternate translation: [I am compensated for it]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

εἰ δὲ ἄκων, οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι.

if if (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ ἑκών τοῦτο πράσσω μισθόν ἔχω εἰ δέ ἄκων οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι)

This sentence could: (1) include both the “if” and the “then” statements and explain how Paul preaching the gospel is “unwilling.” He did not choose this stewardship, and so he does it unwillingly. However, the reason he does preach the gospel is because he has been entrusted with that stewardship. Alternate translation: [But if unwillingly, I do this because I have been entrusted with a stewardship] (2) express the “if” statement for the question (the “then” statement) at the beginning of the next verse ([9:18](../09/18.md)). The word unwillingly would modify entrusted, and you would need to connect the end of this verse and the beginning of the next verse with a comma, dropping the capitalization on “What.” Alternate translation: [But I have been unwillingly entrusted with a stewardship,]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

εἰ δὲ ἄκων

if if (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ ἑκών τοῦτο πράσσω μισθόν ἔχω εἰ δέ ἄκων οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι)

Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them explicitly in the previous clause (I do this). If your language does need these words, you could supply them from that clause. Alternate translation: [But if I do this unwillingly]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πεπίστευμαι

˱I˲_˓have_been˒_entrusted

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on himself, who has been entrusted, rather than focusing on the person doing the “entrusting.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God has entrusted me with]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

οἰκονομίαν

˓a˒_management

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind stewardship, you can express the idea by using a phrase with a verb such as “oversee” or “do.” Alternate translation: [something to do] or [a task to oversee]

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 9:17

SR Greek word order

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

Paragraph 9:15–18

9:17

9:17a

9:17b

9:17c

9:17d

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:17

SR Greek word order

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

Paragraph 9:15–18

9:17

9:17a

9:17b

9:17c

9:17d

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 9:17