1
Corinthians 9
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 gospels 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.
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