9 I am a free man. I am an apostle. I have seen Jesus, our Lord. You yourselves are the result of the work that I do to serve the Lord. You know that is all true. 2 Other people may not accept me as a true apostle. But you surely must accept me. As a result of my work, you now belong to the Lord. That shows that I am truly his apostle.
3 Some people do not like what I do. This is my answer to what they say against me: 4 As apostles, Barnabas and I should receive food and drink from the people that we help. 5 If we have a Christian wife, we should take her with us as we travel. The other apostles do this. So do the Lord's brothers, and also Peter. We have the same authority that they have. 6 Barnabas and I seem to be the only leaders who must work at other jobs. We should not need to do that!
7 Think about these examples: A soldier never has to pay for his own food and clothes. A farmer who plants vines will eat some of the grapes. A person who takes care of sheep or goats will drink some of the milk from those animals. You know that is what always happens.
8 I am not just telling you human ideas. God's Law teaches the same thing. 9 God's Law that he gave to Moses says this: ‘Do not tie shut the mouth of your ox while it walks on your grain.’ [ a ]
But God's Law does not teach this only to help bulls. 10 No, God wanted to help us too. That is why he gave this rule to Moses for his people. Any farmer who works hard to grow food should get some of the food for himself. He ploughs his fields and he prepares the seeds because he hopes to eat some of the food. 11 Our spiritual work among you is like we have planted seeds. In return, you should give to us the food and clothes that we need to live. That is like the harvest that we should receive from our work. 12 You agree to help other people who teach God's message to you. So surely we should receive even more help from you!
But Barnabas and I have not used our authority to make you help us like that. Instead, we accept all these difficult things patiently. We want the good news about Christ to go everywhere. We do not want to do anything that might stop it.
13 Think about this: The people who work in the temple get their food from that place. The priests who offer sacrifices on the altar receive part of the animals for themselves. 14 In the same way, the people who tell God's good news to others should receive what they need to live. They should receive it from the people who hear the good news from them.
15 But I have not used my authority as an apostle to demand these things from you. And I am not writing this letter to demand that you help me now. No! It would be better for me to die than to change the way that I live. I can be proud of that and nobody should stop me. 16 I tell God's good news to people. But I have no reason to be proud because of that. It is something that I have to do. If I did not tell the good news, it would bring me great trouble.
17 If I were doing this work because I chose to do it, I would receive my pay. But I myself did not choose to do it. God has given me this work, so I have to do it. 18 So what kind of pay do I receive? It is this: I do not take any money from people when I tell them God's good news. I do not use all the authority that I could use when I tell God's good news to people.
19 Yes, I am a free man. I am not anybody's slave. But I choose to serve everybody like a slave. I do that so that I can help many more people to believe in Christ. 20 When I was among Jews, I lived like they do, because I wanted to bring Jews to Christ. The Law that God gave to Moses no longer has authority over me. But I chose to obey that Law when I was among Jewish people who obey it. I did that so that I could help them to believe in Christ. 21 With Gentile people, who do not have Moses' Law, I lived like they do. I continued to respect God's Law. Yes, I obey Christ's law. But I lived like a Gentile, so that I could help Gentiles to believe in Christ. 22 With weak people, I became like someone who is weak too. I did that so that I could bring weak people to believe in Christ. Whoever I am living among, I live like they do. I want to do everything that I can to save some of them.
23 I want to help people to accept God's good news. That is why I do all these things. I want to share in the good things that the good news gives to believers.
24 Think about how people run in a race. All the runners run, but only one of them receives the prize. You must run like that, to win the race. 25 People who run in races prepare their bodies well. They make themselves work very hard. They do this so that they will win a prize that will quickly become spoiled. But we work hard to receive a prize that will never become spoiled.
26 Because of that, I do not run with no purpose. I do not fight like someone who only hits the air. 27 I make my body do what I want it to do. I make it like my slave. I have told God's message to other people. I do not want to lose the prize myself. So I try very much to obey the rules of the race.
9 I am a free man. I am an apostle. I have seen Jesus our Lord. You people are an example of my work in the Lord. 2 Others may not accept me as an apostle, but surely you do. You are proof that I am an apostle in the Lord.
3 Some people want to judge me. So this is the answer I give them: 4 We have the right to eat and drink, don’t we? 5 We have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel, don’t we? The other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter all do this. 6 And 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 himself. No one takes care of a flock of sheep without drinking some of the milk himself.
8 These aren’t just my own thoughts. God’s law says the same thing. 9 Yes, it is written in the Law of Moses: “When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don’t keep it from eating the grain.” [ a ] When God said this, was he thinking only about work animals? No. 10 He was really talking about us. Yes, that was written for us. The one who plows and the one who separates the grain should both expect to get some of the grain for their work. 11 We planted spiritual seed among you, so we should be able to harvest from you some things for this life. Surely that is not asking too much. 12 Others have this right to get things from you. So surely we have this right too. But we don’t use this right. No, we endure everything ourselves so that we will not stop anyone from obeying 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 It is the same with those who have the work of telling the Good News. 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 trying to get anything from you. That is not my purpose for writing this. I would rather die than to have someone take away what for me is a great source of pride. 16 It’s not my work of telling the Good News that gives me any reason to boast. That is my duty—something I must do. If I don’t tell people the Good News, I am in real trouble. 17 If I did it because it was my own choice, I would deserve to be paid. But I have no choice. I must tell the Good News. So I am only doing the duty that was given to me. 18 So what do I get for doing it? My reward is that when I tell people the Good News I can offer it to them for free and not use the rights that come with doing this work.
19 I am free. I belong to no other person, but I make myself a slave to everyone. I do this to help save as many people as I can. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew so that I could help save Jews. I myself am not ruled by the law, but to those who are ruled by the law I became like someone who is ruled by the law. I did this to help save those who are ruled by the law. 21 To those who are without the law I became like someone who is without the law. I did this to help save those who are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by the law of Christ.) 22 To those who are weak, I became weak so that I could help save them. I have become all things to all people. I did this so that I could save people in any way possible. 23 I do all this to make the Good News known. I do it so that I can share in the blessings of the Good News.
24 You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win! 25 All who compete in the games use strict training. They do this so that they can win a prize—one that doesn’t last. But our prize is one that will last forever. 26 So I run like someone who has a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something, not just the air. 27 It is my own body I fight to make it do what I want. I do this so that I won’t miss getting the prize myself after telling others about it.
9 Am I am 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.
9 Am I not ( A ) free? Am I not an ( B ) apostle? Have I not ( C ) seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not ( D ) my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the ( E ) seal of my ( F ) apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 [ a ] ( G ) Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5 [ b ] ( H ) Do we not have a right to take along a [ c ] believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the ( I ) brothers of the Lord, and [ d ] ( J ) Cephas? 6 Or do only [ e ] ( K ) Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from [ f ] working? 7 Who at any time serves ( L ) as a soldier at his own expense? Who ( M ) plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not [ g ] consume some of the milk of the flock?
8 I am not just asserting these things ( N ) according to human judgment, am I? Or does the Law not say these things as well? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “ ( O ) You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing .” God is not concerned about ( P ) oxen, is He? 10 Or is He speaking entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written ( Q ) for our sake, because ( R ) the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing in the crops . 11 ( S ) If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we ( T ) did not use this right, but we endure all things ( U ) so that we will cause no hindrance to the ( V ) gospel of Christ. 13 ( W ) Do you not know that those who ( X ) perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share [ h ] from the altar? 14 So also ( Y ) the Lord directed those who proclaim the ( Z ) gospel to ( AA ) get their living from the gospel.
15 But I have ( AB ) used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that . No one shall make ( AC ) my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about , for ( AD ) I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach ( AE ) the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a ( AF ) reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a ( AG ) commission nonetheless . 18 What, then, is my ( AH ) reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel ( AI ) without charge, so as ( AJ ) not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19 For though I am ( AK ) free from all people, I have made myself ( AL ) a slave to all, so that I may ( AM ) gain more. 20 ( AN ) To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though ( AO ) not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are ( AP ) without the Law, I became ( AQ ) as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but ( AR ) under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the ( AS ) weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become ( AT ) all things to all people, ( AU ) so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
24 ( AV ) Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives ( AW ) the prize? ( AX ) Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who ( AY ) competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable ( AZ ) wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I ( BA ) run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as [ i ] to avoid ( BB ) hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline ( BC ) my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
9 Am I not free? ( A ) Am I not an apostle? ( B ) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? ( C ) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? ( D ) 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal ( E ) of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? ( F ) 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife ( G ) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers ( H ) and Cephas [ a ] ? ( I ) 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas ( J ) who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier ( K ) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard ( L ) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” [ b ] ( M ) Is it about oxen that God is concerned? ( N ) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, ( O ) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ( P ) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ( Q ) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. ( R ) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder ( S ) the gospel of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? ( T ) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. ( U )
15 But I have not used any of these rights. ( V ) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. ( W ) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. ( X ) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; ( Y ) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. ( Z ) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, ( AA ) and so not make full use of my rights ( AB ) as a preacher of the gospel.
19 Though I am free ( AC ) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, ( AD ) to win as many as possible. ( AE ) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. ( AF ) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), ( AG ) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law ( AH ) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), ( AI ) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. ( AJ ) I have become all things to all people ( AK ) so that by all possible means I might save some. ( AL ) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? ( AM ) Run ( AN ) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown ( AO ) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ( AP ) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; ( AQ ) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ( AR ) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body ( AS ) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ( AT )
