CHAPTER 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 wifea, 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 liveb
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.
The
Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems,
Inc.
