“1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ
our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto
others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are
ye in the Lord.”
“3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power
to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife,
as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who
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? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith
not the law the same also? 9 For 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? 10 Or 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. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great
thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If 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. 13 Do 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? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they
which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
“15 But 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. 16 For 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! 17 For if I do
this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a
dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me. 18 What 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.”
“19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself
servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And 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; 21
To 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. 22 To 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. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker
thereof with [you].”
“24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And 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. 26 I therefore so
run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27
But 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.” (1 Corinthians 9:1-27 AV)
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