1 Corinthians 9 (YLT)

1Am not I an apostle? am not I free? Jesus Christ our Lord have I not seen? my work are not ye in the Lord?Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

2if to others I am not an apostle — yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3My defence to those who examine me in this;This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:

4have we not authority to eat and to drink?Have we no right to food and to drink?

5have we not authority a sister — a wife — to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

6or only I and Barnabas, have we not authority — not to work?Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?

7who doth serve as a soldier at his own charges at any time? who doth plant a vineyard, and of its fruit doth not eat? or who doth feed a flock, and of the milk of the flock doth not eat?Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

8According to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

9for in the law of Moses it hath been written, 'thou shalt not muzzle an ox treading out corn;' for the oxen doth God care?For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

10or because of us by all means doth He say it? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading ought of his hope to partake in hope.Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

11If we to you the spiritual things did sow — great is it if we your fleshly things do reap?If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?

12if others do partake of the authority over you — not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

13Have ye not known that those working about the things of the temple — of the temple do eat, and those waiting at the altar — with the altar are partakers?Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

14so also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for it is good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

16for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is to me if I may not proclaim good news;Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly — with a stewardship I have been entrusted!If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.

18What, then, is my reward? — that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

19for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

20and I became to the Jews as a Jew, that Jews I might gain; to those under law as under law, that those under law I might gain;To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.

21to those without law, as without law — (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) — that I might gain those without law;To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

22I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.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.

23And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

24have ye not known that those running in a race — all indeed run, but one doth receive the prize? so run ye, that ye may obtain;Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

25and every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible;Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

26I, therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air;Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

27but I chastise my body, and bring it into servitude, lest by any means, having preached to others — I myself may become disapproved.No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9

The Rights of an Apostle

Paul the Servant to All

Run Your Race to Win

You’ve read 1 Corinthians 9

Go deeper