[[1 Corinthians 8|<< 1 Corinthians 8]] | [[1 Corinthians|1 Corinthians]] | [[1 Corinthians 10|1 Corinthians 10 >>]] ### 1 Corinthians 9 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? ^1 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. ^2 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, ^3 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? ^4 5 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? ^5 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? ^6 7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? ^7 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? ^8 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? ^9 10 Or saith he _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. ^10 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, _is_ _it_ a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? ^11 12 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. ^12 13 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? ^13 14 Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. ^14 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 any man should make my glorying void. ^15 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! ^16 17 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. ^17 18 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. ^18 19 For though I be free from all _men_, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. ^19 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; ^20 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. ^21 22 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. ^22 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with _you_. ^23 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. ^24 25 And 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. ^25 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: ^26 27 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. ^27