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?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?

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

If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3 ¶ My answer to those that examine me is this,

My defence to them that examine me is this.

4 D o we not have authority to eat and to drink?

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

5 D o we not have authority to bring with us a sister, a wife, as also the other apostles and as the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 D o only Barnabas and I not have authority to forbear working?

Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?

7 W ho serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who feeds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?

What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8 D o I say this only according to men? or does not the law say the same also?

Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

9 F or it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the grain. Does God take care for oxen?

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

10 O r does he say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plows should plow in hope, and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope of partaking.

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

If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 I f others are partakers of this authority over you, why not us? Nevertheless we have not used this authority, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

13 D o ye not know that those who work with sacred things live of the things of the sanctuary? and those who serve at the altar partake of the altar?

Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?

14 E ven so the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim 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 anyone should make this my glory void.

But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void.

16 F or though I preach the gospel, I have no reason to glory, for it is an obligation laid upon me; for woe is me, if I do not preach the gospel!

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

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

For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.

18 W hat reward, then, shall I have? That preaching the gospel, I may make the gospel of the Christ without charge, that I abuse not my authority in the gospel.

What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

19 ¶ Therefore, though I am free regarding everyone, yet I have made myself slave unto all, that I might gain the more.

For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

20 A nd unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those that are under the law;

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 t o those that are without law, as without law (being not without law of God, but under the law of Christ), that I might gain those that are without law.

to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.

22 T o the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak; I am made all things to everyone, that I might by all means save some.

To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

23 A nd this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker together of it.

And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

24 ¶ Know ye not that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain it.

Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

25 A nd every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible one.

And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as unto an uncertain thing; so I fight, not as one that beats the air;

I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

27 b ut I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection, lest preaching to others, I myself should become reprobate.

but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.