The Bible says: "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a REWARD; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. WHAT THEN IS MY REWARD? THAT WHEN I PREACH THE GOSPEL, I MAY OFFER THE GOSPEL WITHOUT CHARGE, SO AS NOT TO MAKE FULL USE OF MY RIGHT IN THE GOSPEL." And if I understand you correctly, you are saying Paul's reward is to preach the gospel for free. Somehow I read that passage differently. Paul is saying that it is his job to preach the gospel, and because it is his job he can't expect a reward for it...he is a slave doing what a slave is supposed to do. Note that he says he is not free to do otherwise, but is under compulsion. So...Paul makes no claims of reward based on his work. Nevertheless, Paul expects a reward for something...and that something is that he preaches the gospel free of charge, even though as a worker he has the right to require payment from those who benefit from him. The question 'what then is my reward?' means 'FOR what then do/will I receive a reward?' So while I agree with your overall point, I think you are 'off' regarding these verses. No? Rob

Hello Rob!

The question 'what then is my reward?' means 'FOR what then do/will I receive a reward?'

Are you sure you're not giving the question a meaning to support your idea that Paul's concern revolved around some other reward than what he so clearly presented in the whole context? After all, the question IS worded, "What then is my reward?" ... and it fits rather well. Near the end of this chapter Paul had liken his race with the Olympic games in saying this:

They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:25

Now, I realize that many have long-since used these verses to promote their beliefs that by such effort one might gain heaven, the kingdom, entrance, or what have you ... which is so bogus it's not even funny. The simple reality in this section is a clear display of the heart of this man, Paul, who was compelled FROM WITHIN by the love of Christ. This is, of course, EXACTLY what he stated in the second letter, "for the love of Christ constrains (compels) us", and he was referring to the EXACT same compelling drive to take the good news freely to all. No, the "under compulsion" was not that "preaching the gospel" was his "job", it was the very heart beat of Christ within his own being that would not let him get sucked into the self-righteous, self-serving business of others who were none other than "ministers of righteousness". What is this "imperishable"? It is no different than what he declared everywhere.

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even YOU, IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD JESUS at His coming? For YOU are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19

IT WAS THOSE WHO WOULD HEAR AND SHARE IN THE GOOD NEWS! Consider:

If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things SO THAT WE WILL CAUSE NO HINDRANCE TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 9:12

He purposely did not "share the right" of being supported by them.

But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make MY BOAST an empty one. 1 Corinthians 9:15

What is this BOAST? And how would it be made "empty"? And why was it so important to him?

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16

He had nothing to boast of in preaching the gospel because of the fact that it was the inner compelling of Christ that wouldn't let him rest. And not only could he not boast for preaching the good news, it would make him miserable NOT to preach the gospel (yeah, "woe is me").

What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I MAY OFFER THE GOSPEL WITHOUT CHARGE, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:18

This was his "boast"! You see, while others - you know, those self-serving "super-apostles" (yuck, yuck) - were boasting in their "God-job", through which they were non-stop taking advantage of the Corinthians (see the last chapters of the second letter) Paul was making it very clear that they had no place for any such boasting. For there is no place for fleshly boasting regarding the good news of Christ. And this is why Paul's "boast" was so strikingly different, for his boast was found in the reality of Christ alone, not from the fulfilling of a "stewardship" in exchange for gain.

FOR THOUGH I AM FREE from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, SO THAT I MAY WIN MORE. 1 Corinthians 9:19

In other words, his reward.

so that I might win Jews 1 Corinthians 9:20

Yep, his reward.

so that I might win those who are under the Law 1 Corinthians 9:20

You guessed it, his reward!

so that I might win those who are without law. 1 Corinthians 9:21

Isn't it so perfectly obvious?

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a FELLOW partaker of it. 1 Corinthians 9:22

Fellow partaker of it? Yes, this was his reward ... to share in the life TOGETHER with those to whom he "won" through the gospel!! This is what drove him. He cared for and loved these people and only desired that they would come to partake in the life of Christ through his preaching of life.

They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:25

His whole drive was in total contrast to what the Corinthians were witnessing from the men who were grudgingly performing their "jobs" in exchange for what they demanded from the people.

Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Do you realize what this "disqualification" was all about? It's simple! The very picture of disqualification was in the so-called "stewardship" of the self-professed, self-righteous, self-serving men that were at that time taking advantage of them.

But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. ... For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, 20

Yes indeed, Paul's reward was found in being able to offer the good news of Christ without any strings attached so that the people would come to share in the life of Christ together with him. Jim Minker