free

The Greek in 1 Corinthians 9:19 that is translated as “free” in English is translated in Matumbi as “not a slave” since there is no native word for “free.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

complete verse (1 Corinthians 9:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 9:19:

  • Uma: “I am not anyone’s slave, I can follow my own desires. But even so, I purposely live like a slave of all people. I do that so that I can bring more-and-more people to believe in Kristus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I here, I rule over myself, I am nobody’s slave. But even though it is like that, I consider myself a slave of all people in order that I may influence many people to follow Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And that’s not all, because even though it’s not proper that I act as a servant to anyone because I’m not the slave of anybody, I want to be the servant of everybody so that many people might come to believe in Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore I am free, no person being my slave master (lit. slave owner). But even though that is so, I have nonetheless made myself a slave of all people in order that I would persuade more to believe.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I really am not a slave to anyone. But it’s like I have enslaved myself to my fellowman so that, by my help, many more will trust and believe/obey Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now, although no person is my boss, yet I do as though all the people are as my bosses. Because I want to cause many people to believe in Christ.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 9:19

The words For and free indicate a connection with 1 Cor. 9.4 (see the comments). From this point to the end of the chapter, Paul links together the two main aspects of his defense covered in verses 4-12a and 12b-18.

I am free from all men: men is implicit in the Greek, as in 1 Cor. 9.1 (see the comments on that verse). Other common language translations agree with Good News Bible in giving the meaning in two contrasting statements. Another possibility is to express free from all negatively, as for example in Translator’s New Testament, “Although I am no man’s slave…,” contrasting with the following words, “I have made myself every man’s slave.” This is no doubt what Paul means.

The word all, corresponding to Good News Bible‘s “nobody,” may mean either “all people” or “all things.” The context shows that Paul is talking about people.

The exact meaning of win is uncertain. The meaning “to win as Christians,” suggested by Barrett, fits verses 20 and 21 later in this chapter, where Paul talks about “winning Jews” and winning “those under the law.” But if we applied this meaning to verse 22 also, the “weak” (“weak in faith”) would have a more general meaning than that in 8.7-13 and would include those who were already Christians. Win could also mean “to make and keep people as Christians to the end,” and this would fit in well with chapter 10. It is probably better to leave this phrase ambiguous, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible have done.

The more should probably be rendered “as many people as possible,” as in Good News Bible.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .