1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Paul Surrenders His Rights

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For _e necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with _f a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That in my preaching _g I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹ For _h though I am free from all, _i I have made myself a servant to all, that I might _j win more of them. ²⁰ _k To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹ To _l those outside the law I became _m as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but _n under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ²² _o To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. _p I have become all things to all people, that _q by all means I might save some. ²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, _r that I may share with them in its blessings.

1. Cross References
   Acts 4:20
   For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.
   Acts 9:6
   But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
   Romans 1:14
   I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
   
2. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 4:1
   This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
   Galatians 2:7
   On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
   Philippians 1:16
   The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
   
3. Cross References
   2 Corinthians 11:7
   Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge?
   2 Corinthians 12:13
   For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
   
4. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 9:1
   Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
   1 Corinthians 10:29
   I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
   
5. Cross References
   Galatians 5:13
   For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
   
6. Cross References
   Matthew 18:15
   If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
   1 Peter 3:1
   Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.
   
7. Cross References
   Acts 16:3
   Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
   Acts 21:23 - 26
   Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.
   
8. Cross References
   Romans 2:12
   For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
   Romans 2:14
   For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
   
9. Cross References
   Galatians 2:3
   But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.
   Galatians 3:2
   Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
   
10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:22
    For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
    
11. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:29
    Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
    
12. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:33
    Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
    
13. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:16
    For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
    Romans 11:14
    In order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
    
14. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:24
    Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.