1 Corinthians 9:19 Meaning and Explanation
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Though belonging to no one, Paul has made himself the servant of all, so that he might win more people to Christ.
What Does 1 Corinthians 9:19 Mean?
Paul states the principle that governs his whole approach. He is free, bound to no master among men, owing no one his service. Yet he has freely chosen to become a servant, even a slave, to everyone, all so that he might gain the more for Christ.
This is freedom turned toward love. Paul's liberty is not spent on himself but poured out for the sake of others' salvation. He lowers himself, adapts, and serves, not from weakness but from a deliberate, gospel-shaped love. In this he walks the path of his Master, who though Lord of all took the form of a servant. True Christian freedom, Paul shows, finds its fullest expression not in self-assertion but in glad self-giving for the good of others.
1 Corinthians 9:19 in the Original Language
doulos (δοῦλος), 'servant' -- a bondservant or slave, one wholly devoted to another's will.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 9:19
What does 1 Corinthians 9:19 mean?
Though belonging to no one, Paul has made himself the servant of all, so that he might win more people to Christ.