| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, because you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3My defense to those who examine me is this: |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Don't we have the right to eat and drink? |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas? |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Or do only Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from working? |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock? |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn't the law also say the same thing? |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned about oxen? |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Isn't he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don't we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right; instead, we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar? |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach--and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Although I am free from all and not anyone's slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win those under the law. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21To those who are without the law, like one without the law--though I am not without God's law but under the law of Christ--to win those without the law. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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