AM I not an apostle? am I not a free man? have I not seen Jesus Christ
our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? (2)If I am not an apostle
unto others, doubtless I am to you: for ye are the seal of my apostolic
mission in the Lord. (3)My apology to those who interrogate me is this,
(4)Have we not power to eat and drink? (5)Have we not power to carry
about with us a sister wife, as do also the other apostles, even the
brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (6)or I alone and Barnabas, have we
not power to forbear labour? (7)Who goeth at any time to war at his own
expences? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit of it?
or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
(8)Speak I these things _rationally_ as a man, or doth not the law
speak the same things? (9)for in the law of Moses it is written, "Thou
shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox which treadeth out the corn[93]."
Doth God take care for oxen? (10)or saith he it altogether for our
sakes? For our sakes doubtless it was written; because he who ploweth
ought to plow in hope, and he who soweth in hope should be partaker of
his hope. (11)If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great
thing if we should reap your corporal things? (12)if others partake of
this power over you, ought not we much more? But we have not used this
power, and we suffer all things, that we might not put any obstruction
in the way of the gospel of Christ.
(13)Know ye not that they who are employed about the holy things, are
fed from the temple? and they who serve at the altar, partake with the
altar? (14)So also the Lord hath commanded to those who preach the
gospel, that they should live by the gospel. (15)But I have used
nothing of these things, nor have I written indeed these things, that
it should be so done respecting me; for it would become me to die
rather than that any man should make my glorying void. (16)For though I
preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid
upon me, yea verily woe is to me if I preach not the gospel. (17)For if
I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am
entrusted with the dispensation _of it_. (18)What then is my reward?
That when I preach the gospel, I may put the gospel of Christ to no
expence, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
(19)For though I be free from all men, I have made myself the servant
of all, that I might gain the more. (20)And I became to the Jews as a
Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those under the law, as under the
law, that I might gain those who are under the law; (21)to those who
are without law, as without law (not as being without law to God, but
under the law to Christ), that I might gain those who were without law.
(22)I became to the weak as weak, that I might gain the weak; I became
all things to all men, that by every means I might save some. (23)And
this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be a partaker of it with
you.
(24)Know ye not that they who run on the course, all run indeed, yet
but one obtaineth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (25)And every
one who contendeth _in the games_ is temperate in all things: they
indeed therefore do it that they may receive a corruptible crown, but
we an incorruptible. (26)I therefore so run not as uncertainly; so do I
exercise with my fists, not as striking the air: (27)but I beat down my
body, and bring it into subjection, that I may not by any means, after
having preached to others, myself become reprobate.