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

2 i f to others I am not an apostle -- yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.

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

3 M y defence to those who examine me in this;

My defense to those who examine me is this:

4 h ave we not authority to eat and to drink?

Do we have no right to eat and drink?

5 h ave we not authority a sister -- a wife -- to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

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

6 o r only I and Barnabas, have we not authority -- not to work?

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

7 w ho 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 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?

8 A ccording to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?

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

9 f or 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, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

10 o r because of us by all means doth He say ? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading of his hope to partake in hope.

Or 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.

11 I f we to you the spiritual things did sow -- great if we your fleshly things do reap?

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

12 i f 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 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.

13 H ave 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 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?

14 s o also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.

Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 A nd I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;

But 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.

16 f or if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and wo is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

For 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!

17 f or if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted!

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

18 W hat, 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 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

19 f or being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;

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

20 a nd 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;

and 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;

21 t o 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 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;

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

23 A nd this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;

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

24 h ave 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 those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25 a nd every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible;

And 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.

26 I , therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air;

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

27 b ut I chastise my body, and bring into servitude, lest by any means, having preached to others -- I myself may become disapproved.

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