1 Corinthians 9

Paul’s Apostolic Rights

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

2 Even if I am not an apostle to others, I am to you all, because you all are the stamp of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 Here is my defense to those questioning me:

4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink,

5 Do we not have the right to take a believing wife with us, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter,

6 Or is it just me and Barnabas who must work for our own bread,

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense, Who plants a vineyard and do not eat none of the grapes, Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk,

8 I am not just talking human wisdom; the law says the same thing.

9 In Moses’ law, it says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading grain.” Is God just concerned about oxen,

10 Nah, this was written for us! Whoever plows and threshes should do so with the hope of sharing the harvest.

11 If we sowed spiritual seeds among you all, is it too much if we reap material blessings,

12 If others got this right to share in your stuff, do we not have it even more, But we did not use this right. We put up with everything so we would not be a stumbling block to your faith in Christ.

13 Do you not all know those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings,

14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel.

15 But I am not used none of these rights, and I am not writing this so you all would give me anything. I would rather die than let anyone take away my right to boast.

16 Preaching the gospel is not something I boast about, because I am under orders. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 If I do it willingly, I get a reward. But even if I do not want to, I am still entrusted with a job.

18 What is my reward, That when I preach, I can offer the gospel free of charge and not use my full rights as a preacher.

Winning the Lost

19 Though I am free and do not belong to anybody, I make myself a servant to everybody so I can win as many as possible.

20 To the Jews, I became like a Jew to win Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law, even though I am not under it, to win those under it.

21 To those not under the law, I became like one without it, though I am still under Christ’s law, to win those without it.

22 To the weak, I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

23 I do all this for the gospel’s sake, so I can share in its blessings.

24 You all know that in a race, everybody runs, but only one gets the prize. Run like you trying to win!

25 Everyone who competes goes into strict training. They do it for a crown that will not last, but we do it for a crown that lasts forever.

26 So I do not run aimlessly, and I do not fight like I am just swinging at the air.

27 Nah, I discipline my body and make it my slave so after I preach to others, I will not get disqualified myself.