1 COR 9:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) But I haven’t taken advantage of any of those rights, and even now, I’m not writing this to ask for material support for myself—I’d rather die than have someone deprive me of this reason for boasting.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But I have not taken advantage of any of these things. Now I do not write these things so that thus it might be done for me, for it would be better for me to die rather than anyone will make my boast empty.

UST However, I have not asked for any of this support from you. Further, I am not now writing to you to ask for support for myself. I would prefer to die rather than to have someone take away what I can boast about.

BSB But I have not used [any] of these [rights]. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than {let} anyone nullify my boast.

MSB But I have not used [any] of these [rights]. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than {let} anyone nullify my boast.

BLB But I have not used any of these. And neither have I written these things that it should be thus with me; for it would be better to me to die, rather than that anyone will make void my boasting.

AICNT But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For to me, it is better to die than — no one will nullify my boasting.

OEB I, however, have not availed myself of any of these rights. I am not saying this to secure such an arrangement for myself; indeed, I would far rather die – Nobody will make my boast a vain one!

WEBBE But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than – no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting!

LSV And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for [it is] good for me rather to die, than that anyone may make my glorying void;

FBV But I have not made use of any of these provisions, and I'm not writing about this to suggest it should be done in my case. I'd rather die than to have anyone take away my pride in not having received any benefit.

TCNT But I have not used any of these rights, and I am not writing this so that such may be done in my case. For I would rather die [fn]than have anyone deprive me of my reason for boasting.

9:15 than have anyone ¦ than—no one will CT {Note: Here CT truly “follows the harder reading,” which has Paul breaking off his statement in mid-flow to replace it with another.}

T4T However, I have not requested that you give me those things that I have a right to receive from you. Furthermore, I am writing this to you, not in order to request you to begin giving me financial help now. I would rather die than to receive help from you. I do not want anyone to prevent me from boasting about my proclaiming God’s message to you without receiving financial help from you.

LEB But I have not made use of any of these rights. And I am not writing these things in order that it may be thus with me. For it would be better to me rather to die than for anyone to deprive me of my reason for boasting.

BBE But I have not made use of any of these things: and I am not writing this in the hope that it may be so for me: for it would be better for me to undergo death, than for any man to make this pride of mine of no effect.

Moff Only, I have not availed myself of any of these rights, and I am not writing in order to secure any such provision for myself. I would die sooner than let anyone deprive me of this, my source of pride.

Wymth But I, for my part, have not used, and do not use, my full rights in any of these things. Nor do I now write with that object so far as I myself am concerned, for I would rather die than have anybody make this boast of mine an empty one.

ASV But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

DRA But I have used none of these things. Neither have I written these things, that they should be so done unto me: for it is good for me to die, rather than that any man should make my glory void.

YLT And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for [it is] good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;

Drby But I have used none of these things. Now I have not written these things that it should be thus in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die than that any one should make vain my boast.

RV But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case: for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

SLT But I used none of these things: and I wrote not these things, that thus it might be with me: for good to me rather to die, than that any should render my boasting void.

Wbstr But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done to me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

KJB-1769 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

KJB-1611 But I haue vsed none of these things. Neither haue I written these things, that it should bee so done vnto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my glorying voyd.
(But I have used none of these things. Neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my glorying void.)

Bshps But I haue vsed none of these thinges. Neuerthelesse, I wrote not these thinges, that it shoulde be so done vnto me: For it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my reioycing vayne.
(But I have used none of these things. Nevertheless, I wrote not these things, that it should be so done unto me: For it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my rejoicing vain.)

Gnva But I haue vsed none of these things: neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done vnto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my reioycing vaine.
(But I have used none of these things: neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my rejoicing vain. )

Cvdl But I haue vsed none of these thinges. Nether wryte I therof, that it shulde be done so vnto me: for I had rather dye, the that eny man shulde brynge my reioysinge to naughte.
(But I have used none of these things. Neither write I thereof, that it should be done so unto me: for I had rather dye, the that any man should bring my rejoicinge to naught/nothinge.)

TNT But I have vsed none of these thinges. Nether wrote I these thinges that it shuld be so done vnto me. For it were better for me to dye the that eny man should take this reioysinge from me.
(But I have used none of these things. Neither wrote I these things that it should be so done unto me. For it were better for me to dye the that any man should take this rejoicinge from me. )

Wycl But Y vside noon of these thingis; sotheli Y wroot not these thingis, that tho be don so in me; for it is good `to me rather to die, than that ony man `auoyde my glorie.
(But I uside noon of these things; truly I wrote not these things, that those be done so in me; for it is good to me rather to die, than that any man avoide my glory.)

Luth Ich aber habe der keines gebraucht. Ich schreibe auch nicht darum davon, daß es mit mir also sollte gehalten werden. Es wäre mir lieber, ich stürbe, denn daß mir jemand meinen Ruhm sollte zunichte machen.
(I but have the/of_the none gebraucht. I write also not therefore of_that, that it with to_me also should held become. It were to_me love(v), I stürbe, because/than that to_me someone my fame should to_nothing make.)

ClVg Ego autem nullo horum usus sum. Non autem scripsi hæc ut ita fiant in me: bonum est enim mihi magis mori, quam ut gloriam meam quis evacuet.[fn]
(I however with_no_one of_these use(n) I_am. Not/No however I_wrote these_things as so/thus be_done in/into/on me: good it_is because to_me more to_die, how as glory of_mine who/any evacuet. )

9.15 Ego autem. Abstinet Apostolus a sumptibus, ne sit forma pseudoapostolis rapacibus. Bonum est, etc. Quisquis enim eo quod sibi debetur uti non vult, amplius impendit Ecclesiæ. Maximam ergo habebat gloriam Apostolus apud Deum, non exigendo stipendium ab infirmis, vel de suis laboribus transigendo quotidianum victum. Gloriam. Quam habeo apud Deum infirmis compatiens.

9.15 I however. Abstinet Apostolus from sumptibus, not be form pseudoapostolis rapacibus. Good it_is, etc. Anyone because by_him that to_himself mustur to_use not/no wants, more impendit Assemblies/Churches. Maximam therefore had glory Apostolus at God, not/no exigendo stipendium away sick/weak, or from/about to_his_own labours transigendo quotidianum food. Glorym. How I_have at God sick/weak compatiens.

UGNT ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ κέχρημαι οὐδενὶ τούτων. οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα, ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί; καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν, ἤ τὸ καύχημά μου οὐδεὶς κενώσει.
(egō de ou keⱪraʸmai oudeni toutōn. ouk egrapsa de tauta, hina houtōs genaʸtai en emoi; kalon gar moi mallon apothanein, aʸ to kauⱪaʸma mou oudeis kenōsei.)

SBL-GNT Ἐγὼ δὲ ⸂οὐ κέχρημαι οὐδενὶ⸃ τούτων. οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί, καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ— τὸ καύχημά μου ⸂οὐδεὶς κενώσει⸃.
(Egō de ⸂ou keⱪraʸmai oudeni⸃ toutōn. ouk egrapsa de tauta hina houtōs genaʸtai en emoi, kalon gar moi mallon apothanein aʸ— to kauⱪaʸma mou ⸂oudeis kenōsei⸃.)

RP-GNT Ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδενὶ ἐχρησάμην τούτων· οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί· καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν, ἢ τὸ καύχημά μου ἵνα τις κενώσῃ.
(Egō de oudeni eⱪraʸsamaʸn toutōn; ouk egrapsa de tauta hina houtōs genaʸtai en emoi; kalon gar moi mallon apothanein, aʸ to kauⱪaʸma mou hina tis kenōsaʸ.)

TC-GNT Ἐγὼ δὲ [fn]οὐδενὶ ἐχρησάμην τούτων· οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτω γένηται ἐν ἐμοί· καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν, ἢ τὸ καύχημά μου [fn]ἵνα τις κενώσῃ.
(Egō de oudeni eⱪraʸsamaʸn toutōn; ouk egrapsa de tauta hina houtō genaʸtai en emoi; kalon gar moi mallon apothanein, aʸ to kauⱪaʸma mou hina tis kenōsaʸ. )

9:15 ουδενι εχρησαμην ¦ ου κεχρημαι ουδενι CT

9:15 ινα τις κενωση ¦ ουδεις κενωσει CT

Key for above GNTs: orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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.

9:15a

But I have not used any of these rights.

¶ But I have never used/claimed my right to support.
¶ But I have never asked anything from you.

But I have not used any of these rights: The Greek text says literally, “But I have not used any of these things.” The BSB has supplied the word rights. This repeats what he said in 9:12c: “But we did not exercise this right.” Paul said that he had not insisted that the people he preached to must support him. Another way to say this is:

But I have not asked for anything from you.

9:15b

And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me.

And I am not writing this letter to ask you to support me.
Nor am I writing these things to you^(plur) because I want you to start giving me pay for my work.

And: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as And introduces a second negative statement. The RSV therefore translates it as “Nor”:

Nor am I writing this… (RSV)

Consider how it is natural to introduce consecutive negative statements in your language.

I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me: In this clause Paul indicated that he did not want the Corinthians to start supporting him now. This was not his purpose in writing about his rights. Other ways to translate this include:

nor am I writing this now in order to claim such rights for myself (GNT)

I am not writing this letter to ask you to support me.

9:15c

Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

It would be better to die! I will not let anyone make my boast empty!
I would rather die of hunger than let anyone take away my boast that when I preached the gospel to you, I did not ask you for food and drink.
It would be better for me to die than…I won’t let that source of my pride disappear.

Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast: In the Greek this is two sentences, but the first sentence is unfinished. Here are some ways to translate this.

Translate it literally, with an unfinished sentence, as the NET has done:
it would be better for me to die than—no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! (NET)
Connect the two sentences. The BSB and many other English versions do this. For example:
I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. (NLT)
Translate it as two complete sentences, as the GNT has done:
I would rather die first! Nobody is going to turn my rightful boast into empty words! (GNT)

I would rather die than: In an emotional way Paul began to explain his reason for not taking pay for his work. But he did not finish the sentence. Some other ways to translate this are:

I would rather die.

It would be better if I die of hunger

let anyone nullify my boast: After breaking off his previous sentence, Paul started again. In this sentence he said that he would not let anyone make his boast untrue, that is, he did not want anyone to give him financial support. Other ways to translate this include:

lose my right to boast about preaching without charge (NLT)

have anyone say I taught you because I wanted you to support me

In some languages it may be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

I refuse to let anyone nullify my boast!

nullify my boast: The Greek text more literally says “empty my boast.” Here is another way to translate this:

have anyone make this boast of mine an empty one (JBP)

boast: Avoid translating boast with a word that refers to something negative or sinful. Paul rejoiced that he was able to preach without receiving pay. He did not sin by doing this.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

this thing that I am proud of

this good thing that I do

my right

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

οὐ κέχρημαι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ οὒ κέχρημαι οὐδενί τούτων Οὐκ ἔγραψα δέ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλόν γάρ μοί μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τό καύχημα μού οὐδείς κενώσει)

Here, taken advantage of refers to “making use of” a resource or “requiring” a specific behavior. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express taken advantage of with a comparable phrase. Alternate translation: [have not made use of] or [have not required you to provide]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ κέχρημαι οὐδενὶ

Here Paul uses two negative words in the Greek: “have not taken advantage of none.” In Paul’s culture, two negative words made the statement even more negative. English speakers would misunderstand these two negatives, so the ULT expresses the idea with one strong negative. If your language can use two negatives as Paul’s culture did, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in this way, you can translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [have by no means taken advantage]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

τούτων

˱of˲_these_‹things›

Here, these things could refer to: (1) the “right” or “rights” that Paul has to financial support from the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [of these rights] (2) all the reasons he has given in [9:6–14](../09/06.md) for why those who proclaim the gospel should receive financial support. Alternate translation: [of these reasons] or [of these arguments]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

οὐκ ἔγραψα

Here Paul refers to 1 Corinthians itself, the letter he is currently writing. Use whatever tense in your language would be appropriate to refer to the letter itself. Alternate translation: [I have not written]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

ταῦτα

these_‹things›

Here Paul refers to what he has already written, especially to [9:6–14](../09/06.md). Use a form in your language that refers back to things that have just been said. Alternate translation: [those things] or [what I have just written]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

οὕτως γένηται

thus ˱it˲_˓may˒_become

Here, thus refers to receiving financial support from the Corinthians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express thus with a word or phrase that more clearly refers to receiving financial support. Alternate translation: [these things might be done] or [support might be given]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

γένηται ἐν ἐμοί

˱it˲_˓may˒_become with me

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 what is done rather than the person doing it. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “you,” the Corinthians, would do it. Alternate translation: [you might do for me]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ καύχημά μου & κενώσει

Here Paul speaks as if a boast was a container that someone could make empty. By speaking in this way, Paul means that someone could take away what he boasts about. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express make my boast empty with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [will remove my reason for boasting] or [will deflate my boast]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ καύχημά μου

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

Parallel 1 COR 9:15

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

Paragraph 9:15–18

9:15a

9:15b

9:15c

Parallel 1 COR 9:15