1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you, for you are the seal (signet of proof) of my apostleship in the Lord.

3This is my reasoned defense (apologia- from intelligent reasoning/speech, well-reasoned reply) to those examining (investigating) me. 4Do we not have the right (authorization, license) to eat and drink? 5Do we not have the right to take along a sister, a wife, as do the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6Or is it only I and Barnabas who do not have the right to not work? 7Who serves as a soldier (contends in a war) at his own expense at any time? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not partake (eat, same word as eat above) of the milk of the flock?

8Do I say these things as a man? Or does not the law say these things also? 9For it has been written in the law of Moses, “You will not muzzle an ox treading out grain.” Is there care (concern) with God for the oxen? 10Or does He say it entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he that plows ought to plow in hope and he that threshes in the hope of partaking. 11If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it a great thing if we reap fleshly things from you? 12If others partake of this right (authority) over you, should we not more? But rather we did not use this right (authority), rather we bear up under (cover over, place under roof) all things that we may not give any hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who are working in the temple get to eat the things of the temple? And those waiting upon (minister, serve) the altar have a share in the altar? 14So also the Lord has ordered (appointed, arranged) to those preaching the gospel to live from out of the gospel.

15But I have not used any of these, neither have I written that these things should become so with me. For it is better (more good- mallon kalon) for me to die than anyone may make my boasting void (deprive of content, empty out, make unreal). 16For if I preach the gospel there is no boasting to me. For necessity is laid upon (insistent) me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If this I willingly (voluntarily) do, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted (persuaded) with a stewardship. 18What then is my reward? That is preaching the gospel I should place (establish, fix, put) the gospel free of cost, so as not to use up (make full use of) my right in the gospel.

19For being free from all, to all I myself became enslaved that I might gain (win) the more (greater, many). 20And I became to the Jews, like as a Jew that I might gain (win) Jews. To those under the law like as under the law, though myself not being under the law, that I might gain (win) those under the law. 21To those without law, like as without the law, not being without the law of God but rather under the law of Christ that I might gain (win) those without the law. 22To the weak I became weak that I might gain (win) the weak. I have become all things to all so that by all means I might save some. 23And I do all things on account of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow-partaker with it. of a Roman mile), but only one takes (receives) the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

24Do you not know that all those running in a race (stadio- stadium race-course about 1/8 of a Roman mile), but only one takes (receives) the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25And everyone contending for the prize (striving, struggling, word close to agonize) exercises mastery (control, dominion) from within in all things, so that they may receive a perishable garland (wreath awarded to victors in ancient athletic games, latin is coronam, royal crown is diadema) but we an imperishable. 26So I run, not as uncertainly (not apparent because not clearly seen). So I fight (box, fistfight, root word is fist) not as beating (scourging, flogging, thrashing, skinning) the air. 27But rather I beat (strike under the eye) my body and subdue (enslave, bring it into subjection) it, lest by any means when having preached to others, I myself might be unapproved (failing to pass the test).