1 CORINTHIANS 9:19 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. — Paul's freedom (eleutheros) paradoxically expresses itself as slavery (edoulōsa emauton). The rhetorical inversion: the free man enslaves himself to all (pasin) to maximize converts (kerdainō = gain, win). The verb 'made myself' (epoiēsa) indicates deliberate self-renunciation of privilege for evangelistic purpose.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 9:19
“For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.” Here again he introduces another high step in advance. For a great thing it is even not to receive, but this which he is about to mention is much more than that. What then is it that he says? “Not only have I not received,” says he, not only have I not used this right, but I have even made myself a slave, and in a slavery manifold and universal. For not in money alone,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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