1Corinthians - Chapter 9 | King James Version (KJV)

  • 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?
  • 2. 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. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
  • 4. Have we not power to eat and to drink?
  • 5. Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and {cf15I as} the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
  • 6. Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
  • 7. 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. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
  • 9. 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. Or saith he {cf15I it} altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, {cf15I 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. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, {cf15I is it} a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
  • 12. If others be partakers of {cf15I this} power over you, {cf15I are} not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
  • 13. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live {cf15I of the things} of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
  • 14. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach 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 {cf15I it were} better for me to die, 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, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
  • 17. For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation {cf15I of the gospel} is committed unto me.
  • 18. What is my reward then? {cf15I 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. For though I be free from all {cf15I men}, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
  • 20. 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. 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. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all {cf15I men}, that I might by all means save some.
  • 23. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with {cf15I you}.
  • 24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
  • 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they {cf15I do it} to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
  • 26. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
  • 27. But I keep under my body, and bring {cf15I it} into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
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