Bible, King James Version
1_Corinthians
1Cor.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 alter are partakers with the alter?
[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.
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