1 Corinthians 9

Paul's Example as an Apostle

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Don't we have the right to eat and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas? 6 Or do Barnabas and I alone have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock? 8 Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn't the law also say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned with oxen? 10 Or isn't He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?

12 If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don't we even more?
However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar?

14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.

18 What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.
19 Although I am a free man and not anyone's [slave], I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law-though I myself am not under the law-to win those under the law. 21 To those who are without [that] law, like one without the law-not being without God's law but within Christ's law-to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.

23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.
24 Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. 26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air.

27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?2 If 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.3 My defence to them that examine me is this.4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?5 Have 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?6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?7 What 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?8 Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?9 For 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,10 or 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.11 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?12 If 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.13 Know 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?14 Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.15 But 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.16 For 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.17 For 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.18 What 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.19 For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.20 And 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;21 to 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.22 To 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.23 And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.25 And 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.26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:27 but 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.