1 Corinthians 9

Paul Is like the Other Apostles

1 I am a free man. I am an apostle. I have seen Jesus our Lord. You people are all an example of my work in the Lord.

2 If others do not accept me as an apostle, surely you do, because you are proof that I am an apostle in the Lord.
3 This is the answer I give people who want to judge me:4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?5 Do we not have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter?6 Are Barnabas and I the only ones who must work to earn our living?

7 No soldier ever serves in the army and pays his own salary. No one ever plants a vineyard without eating some of the grapes. No person takes care of a flock without drinking some of the milk.
8 I do not say this by human authority; God’s law also says the same thing.9 It is written in the law of Moses: “When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating.” 10 He was really talking about us. Yes, that Scripture was written for us, because it goes on to say: “The one who plows and the one who works in the grain should hope to get some of the grain for their work.”11 Since we planted spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we should harvest material things?12 If others have the right to get something from you, surely we have this right, too. But we do not use it. No, we put up with everything ourselves so that we will not keep anyone from believing the Good News of Christ.13 Surely you know that those who work at the Temple get their food from the Temple, and those who serve at the altar get part of what is offered at the altar.

14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who tell the Good News should get their living from this work.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this now to get anything from you. I would rather die than to have my reason for bragging taken away.16 Telling the Good News does not give me any reason for bragging. Telling the Good News is my duty—something I must do. And how terrible it will be for me if I do not tell the Good News.17 If I preach because it is my own choice, I have a reward. But if I preach and it is not my choice to do so, I am only doing the duty that was given to me.

18 So what reward do I get? This is my reward: that when I tell the Good News I can offer it freely. I do not use my full rights in my work of preaching the Good News.
19 I am free and belong to no one. But I make myself a slave to all people to win as many as I can.20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews. I myself am not ruled by the law. But to those who are ruled by the law I became like a person who is ruled by the law. I did this to win those who are ruled by the law.21 To those who are without the law I became like a person who is without the law. I did this to win those people who are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by Christ’s law.)22 To those who are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible.

23 I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings.
24 You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win!25 All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed.26 So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air.27 I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others.

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.