1 A m I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

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

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 M y defense to those who examine me is this:

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4 D o we have no right to eat and drink?

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5 D o we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

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 O r is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

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

7 W ho ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

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 D o I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 F or it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

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

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 I f we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?

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

12 I f others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

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 D o you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

Do 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?

14 E ven so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15 B ut I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

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 F or if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

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 F or if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

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 W hat is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. Serving All Men

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 F or though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

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

20 a nd to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

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 t o those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ ), that I might win those who are without law;

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 t o the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

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 N ow this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Striving for a Crown

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

24 D o you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

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

25 A nd everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

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 T herefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

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

27 B ut I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

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.