1 Corinthians — Chapter 9

1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?

2If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3My defence to them that examine me is this.

4Have we no right to eat and to drink?

5Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?

7What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

10or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking.

11If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?

12If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

13Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?

14Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.

15But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void.

16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

17For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.

18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

19For though I was free from all [men,] I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

20And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.

22To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

23And I do all things for the gospel`s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

24Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

25And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

27but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord.

3This is my defense to those who examine me.

4Do we not have the right to financial support?

5Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

6Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work?

7Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?

8Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well?

9For it is written in the law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” God is not concerned here about oxen, is he?

10Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest.

11If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?

12If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving?But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

13Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings?

14In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.

15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than—no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting!

16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.

18What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.

20To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.

21To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

22To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.

23I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.

24Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.

25Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

26So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air.

27Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?

2If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3My defense to those who examine me is this.

4Have we no right to eat and to drink?

5Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?

7What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?

8Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?

9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,

10or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.

11If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?

12If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

13Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?

14Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.

15But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

16For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.

17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.

19For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

20To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;

21to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

22To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

23Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.

24Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

25Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

26I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,

27but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.