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
plougheth should plough 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 canal 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, wo
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 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 cast-away.
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