1 A m I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Am I not an apostle (a special messenger)? Am I not free (unrestrained and exempt from any obligation)? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my workmanship in the Lord?

2 I f I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Even if I am not considered an apostle (a special messenger) by others, at least I am one to you; for you are the seal (the certificate, the living evidence) of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 M ine answer to them that do examine me is this,

This is my defense (my vindication of myself) to those who would put me on trial and cross-examine me.

4 H ave we not power to eat and to drink?

Have we not the right to our food and drink ?

5 H ave we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Have we not the right also to take along with us a Christian sister as wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?

6 O r I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from doing manual labor for a livelihood ?

7 W ho 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?

What soldier at any time serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of the fruit of it? Who tends a flock and does not partake of the milk of the flock?

8 S ay I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

Do I say this only on human authority and as a man reasons? Does not the Law endorse the same principle?

9 F or 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?

For in the Law of Moses it is written, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn. Is it for oxen that God cares?

10 O r 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.

Or does He speak certainly and entirely for our sakes? it is written for our sakes, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest.

11 I f we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

If we have sown spiritual good among you, much if we reap from your material benefits?

12 I f 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.

If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we ? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.

13 D o 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?

Do you not know that those men who are employed in the services of the temple get their food from the temple? And that those who tend the altar share with the altar ?

14 E ven so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

15 B ut 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.

But I have not made use of any of these privileges, nor am I writing this that any such provision be made for me. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone make void and deprive me of my glorifying.

16 F or 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!

For if I preach the Gospel, that gives me no reason to boast, for I feel compelled of necessity to do it. Woe is me if I do not preach the glad tidings (the Gospel)!

17 F or if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have my pay (my reward); but if it is not of my own will, but is done reluctantly and under compulsion, I am entrusted with a trusteeship and commission.

18 W hat 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.

What then is the reward that I get? Just this: that in my preaching the good news (the Gospel), I may offer it free of expense, not taking advantage of my rights and privileges of the Gospel.

19 F or though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

For although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more.

20 A nd 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;

To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to men under the Law, as one under the Law, though not myself being under the Law, that I might win those under the Law.

21 t o 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.

To those without (outside) law I became as one without law, not that I am without the law of God and lawless toward Him, but that I am within and committed to the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.

22 T o 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.

To the weak (wanting in discernment) I have become weak (wanting in discernment) that I might win the weak and overscrupulous. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means (at all costs and in any and every way) save some.

23 A nd this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

And I do this for the sake of the good news (the Gospel), in order that I may become a participator in it and share in its.

24 K now ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but one receives the prize? So run that you may lay hold and make it yours.

25 A nd 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.

Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we that cannot wither.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.

27 b ut 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.

But I buffet my body and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit.