1 COR 9:19 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Although I have no obligation to any person, I made myself a slave of everyone in order to win over as many as possible.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 being free from all, I enslaved myself to all in order that I might gain the more people.

UST Since I preach the good news for free, I do not need to serve any humans. However, I choose to serve all humans so that I can help more of them believe in the Messiah.

BLB For being free from all, I myself became servant to all, so that I might win the more.

AICNT For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

OEB Although I was entirely free, yet, to win as many converts as possible, I made myself everyone’s slave.

WEBBE For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.

LSV for being free from all men, I made myself servant to all men, that the more I might gain;

FBV Even though I am free and serve no one, I have placed myself in service to everyone so that I might gain more.

TCNT For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, in order to win as many as possible.

T4T I am not obligated to do what anyone else thinks that I should do. Nevertheless, when I have been with any group of people, I have made myself do what they believed that I should do, just like a slave does what his master wants him to do. I have done that in order that I might convince more people to trust in Christ.

LEB For although I[fn] am free from all people, I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more.

9:19 *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“am”) which is understood as concessive

BBE For though I was free from all men, I made myself a servant to all, so that more might have salvation.

Moff Why,
⇔ free as I am from all, I have made myself the slave of all,
⇔ to win over as many as I could.

Wymth Though free from all human control, I have made myself the slave of all in the hope of winning as many converts as possible.

ASV For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

DRA For whereas I was free as to all, I made myself the servant of all, that I might gain the more.

YLT for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;

Drby For being free from all, I have made myself bondman to all, that I might gain the most [possible].

RV For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

SLT For being free from all, I have subjected myself to all, that I might gain the more.

Wbstr For though I am free from all men , yet I have made myself servant to all, that I might gain the more.

KJB-1769 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

KJB-1611 For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all, that I might gaine the more.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For though I be free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruaunt vnto all men, that I might win the mo.
(For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all men, that I might win the mo.)

Gnva For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all men, that I might winne the moe.
(For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all men, that I might win the moe. )

Cvdl For though I am fre from all men, yet haue I made my selfe euery mans seruaunt, yt I mighte wynne ye moo.
(For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself every mans servant, it I might win ye/you_all moo.)

TNT For though I be fre from all men yet have I made my silfe servaunt vnto all men that I myght wynne the moo.
(For though I be free from all men yet have I made myself servant unto all men that I might win the moo. )

Wycl Forwhi whanne Y was fre of alle men, Y made me seruaunt of alle men, to wynne the mo men.
(Forwhi when I was free of all men, I made me servant of all men, to win the more men.)

Luth Denn wiewohl ich frei bin von jedermann, hab‘ ich mich doch selbst jedermann zum Knechte gemacht, auf daß ich ihrer viel gewinne.
(Because although I free am from anyone, have I me though/but himself/itself anyone for_the servant(s) made, on/in/to that I of_their/her many wins.)

ClVg Nam cum liber essem ex omnibus, omnium me servum feci, ut plures lucrifacerem.[fn]
(For/Surely when/with book/volume I_would_be from to_all, of_all me a_servant I_did, as many lucrifacerem. )

9.19 Ex omnibus. Negotiis hominum, nihil ab eis accipiendo; Omnium, subaudi hominum, me servum feci, supportando omnes, veluti bonus procurator supportat infirmos, maxime vos, o Corinthii, per meam patientiam. Feci autem hoc non calliditatis astutia, sed compatientis affectu, ut plures lucrifacerem Christo.

9.19 From to_all. Negotiis of_men, nothing away to_them be_acceptedendo; Of_all, subaudi of_men, me a_servant I_did, supportando everyone, like/asi good/kind/gracious procurator supportat sick, especially/most you(pl), o Corinthii, through of_mine patience. I_did however this not/no calliditatis astutia, but compatientis with_feeling, as many lucrifacerem to_Christ/Messiah.

UGNT ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων, πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω.
(eleutheros gar ōn ek pantōn, pasin emauton edoulōsa, hina tous pleionas kerdaʸsō.)

SBL-GNT Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·
(Eleutheros gar ōn ek pantōn pasin emauton edoulōsa, hina tous pleionas kerdaʸsō;)

RP-GNT Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων, πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω.
(Eleutheros gar ōn ek pantōn, pasin emauton edoulōsa, hina tous pleionas kerdaʸsō.)

TC-GNT Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων, πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα, ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω.
(Eleutheros gar ōn ek pantōn, pasin emauton edoulōsa, hina tous pleionas kerdaʸsō. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (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 9:19–23

In this paragraph Paul explained that he gave up his rights in order to serve others. In this way he could help more people hear and believe the message about Jesus Christ.

9:19a

Though I am free of obligation to anyone,

¶ For although I am free and a slave to no one,
¶ Nobody owns me,

Though I am free of obligation to anyone: In Greek this literally says “being free from all.” It indicates that Paul was not a slave to any human being. He was able to live and work as he chose. Another way to translate this is:

I am not a slave to anyone

Though: There is something unexpected here. Paul was free and yet he made himself a slave. In the Greek text this contrast is implicit. The BSB indicates this contrast with the use of Though. Another way to indicate this is are:

I am free and belong to no one. But I make myself a slave to all people (NCV)

I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave (GNT)

9:19b

I make myself a slave to everyone,

I act like everybody’s slave,
but I work as if everybody owns me,

I make myself a slave to everyone: This is a figure of speech. Paul compared himself to a slave, but he did not become an actual slave. He wanted everyone to come to know Christ, so he acted in ways that would not hinder them. Other ways to translate this include:

I act like everybody’s slave

I work like a slave for everyone

I make myself a slave: This describes Paul’s way of life. Choose a tense form or a grammatical pattern in your language that expresses a general principle, or a habitual action. You should use this same tense or grammatical pattern for each of Paul’s statements in 9:20–23.9:19 Paul used the Greek aorist tense in 9:19–22. This as a “gnomic aorist” which expresses habitual action. In 9:23 Paul used a present tense and continued to express his general pattern of life. When Paul said that he “became like a Jew,” “became like one under the law,” and “became weak,” he was describing the pattern of his life.

slave: In some languages it may be easier to say “have an owner” rather than “be a slave.” This could be expressed as:

Nobody owns me, but I work as if everybody owns me.

9:19c

to win as many as possible.

so that by my help, many people will follow Christ.
so that I will cause as many people as I can to believe in Christ.

to win as many as possible: This is a purpose clause. Paul wanted to win many people, that is, to help them believe in Christ. Some other ways to translate this are:

so that by my help, as many people as possible will follow Christ

to persuade more people to believe

to cause many people to enter faith in Christ

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν

free (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐλεύθερος Γάρ ὤν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτόν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τούς πλείονας κερδήσω)

Here, For introduces verses [19–23](../09/19.md). Paul is drawing an inference from what he said in [9:18](../09/18.md) about offering the gospel “without charge.” Since he offers the gospel without charge, he is free from all. In this and the following verses, Paul will explain what he does as someone who is free from all and how this is beneficial or a “reward.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express For with a word or phrase that introduces an explanation or further development. Alternate translation: [So, because I am free]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ὢν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐλεύθερος Γάρ ὤν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτόν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τούς πλείονας κερδήσω)

Here, being introduces a phrase that: (1) contrasts with I enslaved myself. Alternate translation: [although I am] (2) gives the reason why Paul can “enslave himself.” Alternate translation: [because I am]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐλεύθερος & ὢν ἐκ πάντων, πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα

free & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐλεύθερος Γάρ ὤν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτόν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τούς πλείονας κερδήσω)

Here Paul uses the language of slavery and freedom to describe how he proclaims the gospel. Since he does not charge money when he proclaims the gospel, he is free. No person employs him or tells him what to do. However, Paul decides to serve others, to “enslave himself,” by doing what others think is right. In this way, he acts like a slave who has to do what his master requires. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the slavery and freedom metaphor with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [not having to obey all, I choose to obey all]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πάντων, πᾶσιν

all ˱to˲_all

Here, the Corinthians would have understood all to refer specifically to people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate all by including a word or phrase that clarifies that Paul is speaking about “people.” Alternate translation: [all people … to all people]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

κερδήσω

˱I˲_˓may˒_gain

Here, to gain someone means to help them toward belief in the Messiah. Once people believe, they belong to Christ and his church, and so the person who preached the gospel to them “gained” them as a new part of the church. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind gain plainly or with a comparable phrase. Alternate translation: [I might convert] or [I might gain for Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοὺς πλείονας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐλεύθερος Γάρ ὤν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτόν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τούς πλείονας κερδήσω)

Here Paul is speaking about how “enslaving himself” to all gains more than if he did not “enslave himself” in this way. He refers specifically to people here, just like all refers to people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express even more things by clarifying that Paul is referring to gaining more people than if he did not “enslave himself.” Alternate translation: [even more people] or [more people in this way]

Parallel 1 COR 9:19

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

Paragraph 9:19–23

9:19a

9:19b

9:19c

Parallel 1 COR 9:19