1Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work in the Lord?
2If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am unto you: for ye are the seal of mine Apostleship in the Lord.
3My defense to him that examine me, is this,
4Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5Or have we not power to lead about a wife being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power not to work?
7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own cost? 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?
8Say I these things according to man? saith not the Law the same also?
9For 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?
10Either saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should ear in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?
12If others with you be partakers of this power, are not we rather? nevertheless, we have not used this power: but suffer all things, that we should not hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13Do ye not know, that they which minister about the holy things, eat of the things of the Temple? and they which wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar?
14So also hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel.
15But I have used none of these things: neither wrote I 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 rejoicing vain.
16For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of: for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
17For if I do it willingly, I have a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed unto me.
18What is my reward then? verily that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authority in the Gospel.
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all men, that I may win the more.
20And unto the Jews, I become as a Jew, that I may win the Jews: to them that are under the Law, as though I were under the Law, that I may win them that are under the Law:
21To them that are without Law, as though I were without Law, (when I am not without Law as pertaining to God, but am in the Law through Christ) that I may win them that are without Law:
22To the weak I become as weak, that I may win the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24Know ye not, that they which run in a race, run all, yet one receiveth the prize? so run that ye may obtain.
25And every man that proveth masteries, abstaineth from all things: and they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we for an incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly: so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.
27But I beat down my body, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means after that I have preached to others, I myself should be reproved.