1 COR 9:16 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) And yet, when I preach the good message, it doesn’t give me any good reason to boast because I’m actually obligated to do it—I wouldn’t end well if I didn’t preach the good message

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 For if I proclaim the gospel, there is nothing for me to boast, because compulsion is placed upon me. For woe be to me if I would not preach the gospel!

UST Now I cannot boast about preaching the good news, because God requires me to preach it. Indeed, were I to stop preaching the good news, God would discipline me.

BLB For if I preach the gospel, there is no boasting to me, for necessity is laid upon me. But woe be to me if I should not preach the gospel.

AICNT For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for {boasting}.[fn] For necessity is laid upon me. {For}[fn] woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

9:16, boasting: 𝔓46 A(02) B(03) C(04) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “grace.” ℵ(01) D(05)

9:16, For: Some manuscripts read “But.” BYZ TR

OEB If I proclaim the good news, I have nothing to boast of, for I am compelled to do so. Woe is me if I do not share it!

WEBBE For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me if I don’t preach the Good News.

WMBB For if I proclaim the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me if I don’t proclaim the Good News.

NET For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

LSV for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid on me, and woe is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

FBV I have nothing to boast about in sharing the good news because it's something I feel compelled to do. In fact it's dreadful for me if I don't share the good news!

TCNT If I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach, and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.

T4T When I proclaim the message about Christ, I cannot boast about doing it, because Christ has commanded me to do it. I would be very miserable (OR, I am afraid that God would punish me) if I did not proclaim that message.

LEB For if I proclaim the gospel, it is not to me a reason for boasting, for necessity is imposed on me. For woe is to me if I do not proclaim the gospel.

BBE For if I am a preacher of the good news, I have no cause for pride in this; because I am forced to do so, for a curse is on me if I do not.

Moff What I am proud of is not the mere preaching of the gospel; that I am constrained to do. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Wymth If I go on preaching the Good News, that is nothing for me to boast of; for the necessity is imposed upon me; and alas for me, if I fail to preach it!

ASV For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

DRA For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me, for a necessity lieth upon me: for woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

YLT for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

Drby For if I announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.

RV For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.
(For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory off; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. )

SLT For if I announce the good news, there is no boasting to me: for necessity is laid upon me; and woe is to me, if I announce not the good news!

Wbstr For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of: for necessity is laid upon me; and woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel!

KJB-1769 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

KJB-1611 For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to glorie of: for necessitie is laid vpon mee, yea, woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For if I preache the Gospell, I haue nothyng to reioyce of: for necessitie is layde vpon me. But wo is vnto me if I preache not the Gospell.
(For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of: for necessity is laid upon me. But woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.)

Gnva For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to reioyce of: for necessitie is laid vpon me, and woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
(For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of: for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel. )

Cvdl For in that I preach the Gospell, I neade not boost my selfe, for I must nedes do it. And wo vnto me, yff I preach not the Gospell.
(For in that I preach the Gospel, I need not boost myself, for I must needs do it. And woe unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.)

TNT In that I preache the gospell I have nothinge to reioyce of. For necessite is put vnto me. Wo is it vnto me yf I preache not the gospell.
(In that I preach the gospel I have nothing to rejoice of. For necessity is put unto me. Woe is it unto me if I preach not the gospel. )

Wycl For if Y preche the gospel, glorie is not to me, for nedelich Y mot don it; for wo to me, if Y preche not the gospel.
(For if I preach the gospel, glory is not to me, for nedelich I mot done it; for woe to me, if I preach not the gospel.)

Luth Denn daß ich das Evangelium predige, darf ich mich nicht rühmen; denn ich muß es tun. Und wehe mir, wenn ich das Evangelium nicht predigte!
(Because that I the gospel preach, may I me not boast/praise; because/than I must it do/put. And woe to_me, when I the gospel not preached!)

ClVg Nam si evangelizavero, non est mihi gloria: necessitas enim mihi incumbit: væ enim mihi est, si non evangelizavero.[fn]
(For/Surely when/but_if evangelizavero, not/no it_is to_me glory: necessitas because to_me incumbit: woe because to_me it_is, when/but_if not/no evangelizavero. )

9.16 Nam et si, etc. Pro mercede: Vel, si ita evangelizavero, non est mihi gloria; quia tunc esset pro necessitate, quia væ, id est, penuria esset sicut pseudoapostolis. Necessitas, hujus vitæ sustentandæ. Væ. Quia unde vivam non habeo.

9.16 For/Surely and si, etc. For reward: Or, when/but_if so/thus evangelizavero, not/no it_is to_me glory; because then was for necessitate, because woe, that it_is, penuria was like pseudoapostolis. Necessitas, of_this of_life sustentandæ. Alas/Woe. Because from_where/who vivam not/no I_have.

UGNT ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα, ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται; οὐαὶ γάρ μοί ἐστιν, ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι.
(ean gar euangelizōmai, ouk estin moi kauⱪaʸma, anagkaʸ gar moi epikeitai; ouai gar moi estin, ean maʸ euangelizōmai.)

SBL-GNT ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα, ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ ⸀γάρ μοί ἐστιν ἐὰν μὴ ⸀εὐαγγελίσωμαι.
(ean gar euangelizōmai, ouk estin moi kauⱪaʸma, anagkaʸ gar moi epikeitai; ouai ⸀gar moi estin ean maʸ ⸀euangelisōmai.)

RP-GNT Ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ δέ μοι ἐστίν, ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι.
(Ean gar euangelizōmai, ouk estin moi kauⱪaʸma; anagkaʸ gar moi epikeitai; ouai de moi estin, ean maʸ euangelizōmai.)

TC-GNT Ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστι μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ [fn]δὲ μοί ἐστιν, ἐὰν μὴ [fn]εὐαγγελίζωμαι.
(Ean gar euangelizōmai, ouk esti moi kauⱪaʸma; anagkaʸ gar moi epikeitai; ouai de moi estin, ean maʸ euangelizōmai. )

9:16 δε ¦ γαρ CT

9:16 ευαγγελιζωμαι ¦ ευαγγελισωμαι NA SBL WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, 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.

9:16a

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast,

But I do not boast about simply preaching the good news,
It is not the preaching of the gospel itself that I can boast about, it is giving up my right to be paid for it that I boast about.

Yet: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Yet expresses a contrast. After Paul mentioned his boast in 9:15, he went on in 9:16 to say what his boast was not. These are some ways to express this connection:

Use a conjunction in your language that expresses contra-expectation or contrast. Paul clarified something that he did not boast about. Many English versions use the preposition “yet.”
Use no conjunction, leaving the meaning implicit. Several English versions such as the NRSV, GNT, and CEV have no conjunction.

when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast: Paul said that he did not boast about preaching the gospel. The reason was that he was compelled to preach.

when: The Greek word that the BSB translates as when is more literally “if.” Some ways to translate this include:

if (ESV)

when (NIV)

9:16b

because I am obligated to preach.

because I am obliged to do this.
The Lord commanded me to preach the gospel and I cannot refuse.

because: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as because introduces the reason why Paul could not boast about preaching the gospel. He had to preach because Christ had commanded him to preach. Other ways to introduce this reason include:

since (CEB)

for (NET)

I am obligated to preach: In this clause Paul said that he could not boast about preaching the gospel because he had to preach. Christ had commanded him to do so. Other ways to translate this include:

I have an obligation to do this (GW)

I am under orders to do so (GNT)

I am obligated: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as I am obligated is literally “necessity is laid upon me.” This is a passive clause and the implied agent is God or Jesus. Jesus showed himself to Paul along the road to Damascus. He told Paul that he was sending him to tell people, especially Gentiles, the good news of salvation. See Acts 9:3–6, 22:12–15, 26:12–20. There are two ways to translate this passive clause:

with a passive verb. For example:
I am compelled by God. (NLT)
with an active verb. For example:
God told me to preach

9:16c

Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

How terrible it will be for me if I do not preach the gospel!
If I do not tell the good news, he will judge me!

This phrase expands on the idea in 16b, using even stronger terms. The BSB does not use a conjunction to introduce this phrase. Consider how it is natural in your language to introduce a statement that adds detail and emotion.

Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!: This is an emotive statement, implying that the Lord would punish Paul if he did not obey him. Other ways to translate this include:

How horrible it will be for me if I don’t spread the Good News! (GW)

And how terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the gospel! (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἐὰν & εὐαγγελίζωμαι, οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα, ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Γάρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι οὐκ ἐστίν μοί καύχημα ἀνάγκη γάρ μοί ἐπίκειται οὐαί γάρ μοί ἐστίν ἐάν μή εὐαγγελίζωμαι)

If your language would normally put the reason before the result, you could rearrange the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: [because compulsion is placed on me, there is nothing for me to boast about if I proclaim the gospel]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

ἐὰν

Paul is speaking as if “proclaiming” the gospel was only a possibility, but he means that he actually does this. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you could translate his words as an affirmative statement. Alternate translation: [when] or [whenever]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀνάγκη & ἐπίκειται

necessity & ˓is˒_imposing

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, upon whom the compulsion is placed, rather than focusing on the person placing the compulsion. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God places compulsion]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀνάγκη & μοι ἐπίκειται

necessity & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν Γάρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι οὐκ ἐστίν μοί καύχημα ἀνάγκη γάρ μοί ἐπίκειται οὐαί γάρ μοί ἐστίν ἐάν μή εὐαγγελίζωμαι)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind compulsion, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “compel” and rephrase the clause. Alternate translation: [I am compelled to do so]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀνάγκη & μοι ἐπίκειται

Here Paul speaks as if compulsion were a physical object that someone had placed upon him. By speaking in this way, he means that he is required to do something. 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: [I am commanded to do so] or [I have an obligation]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οὐαὶ & μοί ἐστιν

Here, woe be to me expresses what Paul thinks would happen to him if he ever were to stop preaching the gospel. He would experience woe, with the implication that this woe will come from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express woe be to me with a word or phrase that expresses the expectation of bad things to come. Alternate translation: [bad things will happen to me] or [God will punish me]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι

Paul is making a conditional statement that sounds hypothetical, but he is already convinced that the condition is not true. He knows that he does indeed preach the gospel. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that the speaker believes is not true. Alternate translation: [whenever I stop preaching the gospel, which I will never do]

Parallel 1 COR 9:16

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

Paragraph 9:15–18

9:16a

9:16b

9:16c

Parallel 1 COR 9:16