1 Corinthians 9:17

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

For if I preached because [I personally decided] I wanted to, I could claim a reward. But if I did not preach from a personal decision to do so, then it would be because I was entrusted with the task [by God]

Cross References

Matthew 10:41

The person who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet receives the [same] reward the prophet gets. And the person who welcomes a good man because he is good receives the [same] reward the good man gets.

Matthew 24:25

You see, I have told you [all this] ahead of time.

Luke 12:42

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the trustworthy and sensible property manager, to whom his master will assign the management of his household, to provide adequate and timely meals for its members?

John 4:36

Already the person who is harvesting [the crop] is being paid for his work, and is gathering a crop for never ending life, so that the one planting and the one harvesting [the crop] may rejoice together.

1 Corinthians 3:14

If the work of anyone lasts [i.e., if his converts are judged faithful], he will receive a reward [i.e., his converts will constitute part of his reward].

1 Corinthians 3:8

Now the person who plants and the person who waters have the same [purpose], and each one will receive his own wages, according to the work each one does.

1 Corinthians 4:1

So, a person should look at us as servants of Christ and property managers entrusted with the secret truths of God.

1 Corinthians 9:16

[But] I do not have anything to boast about if I preach the good news because I am compelled to do it. For it would be too bad for me if I did not preach the good news.

1 Corinthians 9:18

Then what is my reward? It is being able to preach the good news without receiving financial support [for it], so as not to claim my full rights in [the work of preaching] the good news.

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if the eagerness is there, [then] whatever a person has [to give] is acceptable, and not what he does not have.

Galatians 2:7

On the contrary, they saw that I had [already] been entrusted [by God] with the Gospel for the uncircumcised ones [i.e., for Gentiles], just as Peter [had been entrusted by God] with the Gospel for the circumcised ones [i.e., for Jews].

Colossians 1:25

I was made a minister of the church according to the task given to me by God to fully present His message to you.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

Instead, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. So, we speak, not trying to please people but God, who examines [the motives of] our hearts.

Philemon 1:14

But I did not want to do anything without your permission, so that your goodness [of heart] would not be shown out of a feeling of obligation, but out of willingness.