OET interlinear 1 COR 9:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τίς οὖν μού ἐστιν ὁ μισθός?

what (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίς Οὖν μού ἐστίν ὁ μισθός Ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τό εὐαγγέλιον εἰς τό μή καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μού ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ)

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the following words are the answer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question by using a construction that introduces what follows as the reward. Alternate translation: [This, then, is my reward:] or [Here, then, is my reward:]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μού & ὁ μισθός

˱of˲_me & the reward

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: [the way God rewards me] or [the way God compensates me]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον, θήσω

gospel_preaching without_charge ˱I˲_˓will_be˒_presenting

Here, proclaiming the gospel without charge describes how Paul wishes to offer the gospel. The phrase proclaiming the gospel without charge could: (1) provide the means by which Paul might offer. Alternate translation: [by proclaiming the gospel without charge, I might offer] (2) give the situations in which Paul “offers” the gospel without taking advantage of his right. Alternate translation: [whenever I proclaim the gospel without charge, I offer]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

ἀδάπανον

without_charge

Here, without charge means that something is free to the person who receives it. Paul is stating that the gospel is “free” or “at no cost” for those to whom he preaches. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express without cost with a word or phrase that indicates that something is “free” or “without cost.” Alternate translation: [freely]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον

˱I˲_˓will_be˒_presenting (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίς Οὖν μού ἐστίν ὁ μισθός Ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τό εὐαγγέλιον εἰς τό μή καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μού ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ)

Here, to offer the gospel means to tell people about the gospel so that they have the chance to believe in it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express offer the gospel with a comparable phrase. Alternate translation: [I might present the gospel]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου

˓to˒_excessively_resort ˱to˲_the authority (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίς Οὖν μού ἐστίν ὁ μισθός Ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τό εὐαγγέλιον εἰς τό μή καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μού ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ)

Here, to take advantage of something means to use that thing for one’s own benefit. Here Paul could use the word: (1) negatively, which would mean that Paul does not want to abuse his right. Alternate translation: [to abuse my right] or [to exploit my right] (2) positively, which would mean that Paul does not want to make use of the right, even though it would be fine to do so. Alternate translation: [to make use of my right]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου

˱to˲_the authority (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίς Οὖν μού ἐστίν ὁ μισθός Ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τό εὐαγγέλιον εἰς τό μή καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μού ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind right, you can express the idea by using a verbal phrase such as “are able to” or “can require.” Alternate translation: [of what I can require]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ

in the gospel

Here Paul speaks as if his right was inside the gospel. He speaks in this way in order to show that he only has the right because of his work for the gospel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [by the gospel] or [that comes from the gospel]