1Corinthians:9:1-23

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* 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 ? * 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 . * Mine answer to them that do examine me is this , * Have we not power to eat and to drink ? * 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 ? * Or I only and Barnabas , have not we power to forbear working ? * 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 ? * Say I these things as a man ? or saith not the law the same also ? * 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 ? * Or saith he it altogether for our sakes ? For our sakes , no doubt , this is written : that he that ploweth should plow in hope ; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope . * If we have sown unto you spiritual things , is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things ? * 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 . * 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 ? * Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel . * 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 . * 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 ! * 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 . * 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 . * For though I be free from all men , yet have I made myself servant unto all , that I might gain the more . * 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 ; * 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 . * 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 . * And this I do for the gospel 's sake , that I might be partaker thereof with you .

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