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The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, Chapter 9
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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?
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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.
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3 |
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
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4 |
Have we notpower to eat and to drink?
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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?
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6 |
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to
forbear working?
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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?
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8 |
Say I
these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
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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?
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10 |
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.
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11 |
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if
we shall reap your carnal things?
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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.
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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?
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14 |
Even so hath the Lord ordained that
they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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19 |
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant
unto all, that I might gain the more.
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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;
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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.
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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.
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23 |
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker
thereof with you.
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24 |
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
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25 |
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible.
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26 |
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one
that beateth the air:
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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.
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