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