1 Corinthians 9:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἰ γὰρ ἑκὼν τοῦτο πράσσω, μισθὸν ἔχω: εἰ δὲ ἄκων, οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι.

Transliteration

For if hekōn this I prassō, misthon I echō: but if akōn, oikonomian I have been pepisteumai.

Grammar Details

• *hekōn*: nominative, masculine, singular - willingly/voluntarily
• *prassō*: present indicative, 1st person singular - do/perform
• *misthon*: accusative, masculine, singular - reward/wage
• *echō*: present indicative, 1st person singular - have
• *akōn*: nominative, masculine, singular - unwillingly/against will
• *oikonomian*: accusative, feminine, singular - stewardship/administration
• *pepisteumai*: perfect passive, 1st person singular - have been entrusted

Word Meanings

• *hekōn*: willingly/voluntarily/of my own will
• *prassō*: do/perform/practice
• *misthon*: reward/wage/payment
• *akōn*: unwillingly/against will/involuntarily
• *oikonomian*: stewardship/administration/commission
• *pepisteumai*: have been entrusted with/am entrusted with/have been given trust of

Referenced Verses

• Gal 2:7 : 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised just as Peter was entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
• 1 Cor 4:1 : 1 The Apostles’ Ministry One should think about us this way– as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
• 1 Cor 3:8 : 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
• Col 1:25 : 25 I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God– given to me for you– in order to complete the word of God,
• 1 Cor 3:14 : 14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward.
• Matt 10:41 : 41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
• Matt 24:25 : 25 Remember, I have told you ahead of time.
• Luke 12:42 : 42 The Lord replied,“Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?
• 1 Cor 9:16 : 16 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!
• 2 Cor 8:12 : 12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.
• Eph 3:2-8 : 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. 4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ 5 (which was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit), 6 namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. 8 To me– less than the least of all the saints– this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ
• Phil 1:16-17 : 16 The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.
• Exod 4:13-14 : 13 But Moses said,“O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!” 14 Then the LORD became angry with Moses, and he said,“What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart.
• 1 Chr 28:9 : 9 “And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the LORD examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.
• 1 Chr 29:5 : 5 for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the LORD today?”
• 1 Chr 29:9 : 9 The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the LORD with a willing attitude; King David was also very happy.
• 1 Chr 29:14 : 14 “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.
• Neh 11:2 : 2 The people gave their blessing on all the men who volunteered to settle in Jerusalem.
• Isa 6:8 : 8 I heard the voice of the Lord say,“Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered,“Here I am, send me!”
• Jer 20:9 : 9 Sometimes I think,“I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.” But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.
• Ezek 3:14 : 14 A wind lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly, my spirit full of fury, and the hand of the LORD rested powerfully on me.
• Jonah 1:3 : 3 Instead, Jonah immediately headed off to Tarshish to escape from the commission of the LORD. He traveled to Joppa and found a merchant ship heading to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard it to go with them to Tarshish far away from the LORD.
• Jonah 4:1-3 : 1 Jonah Responds to God’s Kindness This displeased Jonah terribly and he became very angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD and said,“Oh, LORD, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish!– because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment. 3 So now, LORD, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!”
• Mal 1:10 : 10 “I wish that one of you would close the temple doors, so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,“and I will no longer accept an offering from you.
• 1 Thess 2:4 : 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.
• 1 Tim 1:11-13 : 11 This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me. 12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
• Phlm 1:14 : 14 However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.
• 1 Pet 5:2-4 : 2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.