1 Corinthians 9

1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?● 2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.● 3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,● 4Have we not power to eat and to drink?● 5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and {as} the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? {wife: or, woman}● 6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?● 7Who 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?● 8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?● 9For 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?● 10Or 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.● 11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, {is it} a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?● 12If 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.● 13Do 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? {live: or, feed}● 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.● 15But 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.● 16For 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!● 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation {of the gospel} is committed unto me.● 18What 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.● 19For though I be free from all {men}, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.● 20And 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;● 21To 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.● 22To 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.● 23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with {you}.● 24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.● 25And 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.● 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:● 27But 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.●