1 Corinthians 9

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3This is my defense to those who examine me.

4Don't we have authority to eat and drink?

5Don't we have the right to take a believing wife with us, as the rest of the apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or don't Barnabas and I alone have the right not to work?

7Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who shepherds a flock and does not eat from the milk of the flock?

8Do I speak these things as a man? Or does the law not also say these things?

9For in the law of Moses it stands written: "Do not muzzle an ox while it threshes." Does God care for the oxen?

10Or does he say it entirely for our sake? For it was written for our sake, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of partaking.

11If we sowed spiritual things for you, is it a great matter if we reap your fleshly things?

12If others share in your authority, do we not even more? But we did not use this authority; rather, we endure all things, so as not to give any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

13Don't you know that those serving holy things eat from the temple, and those attending the altar share with the altar?

14So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to live from the gospel.

15But I have not made use of any of these, nor have I written these things so it might turn out this way for me—for it is better for me to die than for anyone to nullify my boasting.

16For if I preach the gospel, I have no ground for boasting, for necessity is imposed upon me; woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.

17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

18What is my reward, then? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer it without cost, so as not to misuse my authority in the gospel.

19For though I am free from all, I made myself a slave to all, that I might win more.

20And among Jews I became a Jew, to gain Jews; among those under law, as one under law—not myself being under law—to gain those under law.

21To the lawless, as lawless—not being lawless toward God, but law-abiding toward Christ—that I might win the lawless.

22With the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. With all I have become all things, that by all means I might save some.

23And I do all things for the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

24Do you not know that all who run in a race run, but one receives the prize? Run that way, so that you may attain it.

25Everyone who strives restrains himself in all things. Now they do so to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

26So then, I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as one beating the air.

27but I discipline my body and enslave it, lest somehow, having preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.