1st Corinthians 9

 

1 Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen (and received from) the Lord Jesus Christ (after He had risen from the dead)? are you not my work in the Lord?

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

3 My defense to those who want to examine me is this,

4 Do we not have the right to eat and to drink?

5 Do we not have the right to walk around with a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas (the apostle Peter)?

6 Or is it only Barnabas and I, that do not have the right to forego working?

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit thereof? Or who feeds a flock, and does not drink the milk of the flock?

8 Do I (just) say these things as a man? Or does not the law also say the same?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, You should not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care of oxen?

10 Or did He say it entirely for our sakes? This was written for our sake no doubt: that he that plows should plow in hope; and he that threshes should thresh in the hope of partaking.

11 If we have sown to you spiritual things (that are profitable unto eternal life), is it a great thing (to be marveled at) if we should reap your physical things?

12 If others are partakers of this power (and influence) over you, should we not be even more? Nevertheless, we have not exercised this right (over you); but endure all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that they which minister about holy things (in the temple) live from the things of the temple (as did Aaron and his sons)? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 In the same way has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things (to you), (saying) that it should be done like this with me: for it is better for me to die than that anyone might make my glorying (in Christ and Him crucified) void (of power).  

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of (but Christ and Him crucified): for necessity is laid on me (and I cannot but speak that which I have seen and heard); yes, grieved would I be, if I preached not the gospel!

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

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

19 For (even) though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself a servant to all, so that I might gain the more.

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

21 To them that are without law, as without law, {not being without the law of God, but under the law of Christ,} so that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak (in faith) I became as weak so that I might win the weak: I have become all things to all men, so that I might by all means rescue any one (of them).

23 And I do this for the gospel's sake, so that I might be partaker (of the life) it brings (along) with you.

24 Do you know that those which run in a race all run, but (only) one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain (the prize).

25 Now any one that competes in the game (to win) exercises self-restraint in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown (that fades away), but we (run for) an incorruptible (prize unto life and immortality in our flesh).

26 I therefore run in this way, not as aimlessly (but with certainty); I do not fight as one that beats the air:

27 But I batter my body (of death) and bring it into subjection (to the obedience of Christ): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I should (judge myself to) be unapproved (not fitting of the prize).