1 Corinthians 10:33

10:33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit ¹  of many, so that they may be saved.

Matthew 20:26-28

20:26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave ²  – 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom ³  for many.”

John 13:14-15

13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example ⁴  – you should do just as I have done for you.

Romans 1:14

1:14 I am a debtor ⁵  both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Romans 15:2

15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.

Romans 15:2

15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.

Colossians 4:5

4:5 Conduct yourselves ⁶  with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

Galatians 5:13

Practice Love

5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; ⁷  only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, ⁸  but through love serve one another. ⁹ 

¹ tn Although the Greek word translated “benefit” occurs only once in this verse, the Greek article occurs twice. This indicates an implied repetition of the term, which has been included twice in the translation for the sake of clarity and English style.

² tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

³ sn The Greek word for ransom (λύτρον, lutron) is found here and in Mark 10:45 and refers to the payment of a price in order to purchase the freedom of a slave. The idea of Jesus as the “ransom” is that he paid the price with his own life by standing in our place as a substitute, enduring the judgment that we deserved for sin.

⁴ sn I have given you an example. Jesus tells his disciples after he has finished washing their feet that what he has done is to set an example for them. In the previous verse he told them they were to wash one another’s feet. What is the point of the example? If it is simply an act of humble service, as most interpret the significance, then Jesus is really telling his disciples to serve one another in humility rather than seeking preeminence over one another. If, however, the example is one of self-sacrifice up to the point of death, then Jesus is telling them to lay down their lives for one another (cf. 15:13).

⁵ tn Or “obligated.”

⁶ tn Grk “walk.” The verb περιπατέω (peripatew) is a common NT idiom for one’s lifestyle, behavior, or manner of conduct (L&N 41.11).

⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

⁸ tn Grk “as an opportunity for the flesh”; BDAG 915 s.v. σάρξ 2.c.α states: “In Paul’s thought esp., all parts of the body constitute a totality known as σ. or flesh, which is dominated by sin to such a degree that wherever flesh is, all forms of sin are likew. present, and no good thing can live in the σάρξ…Gal 5:13, 24;…Opp. τὸ πνεῦμα…Gal 3:3; 5:16, 17ab; 6:8ab.”

⁹ tn It is possible that the verb δουλεύετε (douleuete) should be translated “serve one another in a humble manner” here, referring to the way in which slaves serve their masters (see L&N 35.27).