English Standard Version

New King James Version

Paul Surrenders His Rights

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?

1

A Pattern of Self-Denial

Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2

If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

2

If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the [a]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3

This is my defense to those who would examine me.

3

My defense to those who examine me is this:

4

Do we not have the right to eat and drink?

4

Do we have no [b]right to eat and drink?

5

Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife,a as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

5

Do we have no right to take along [c]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6

Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

6

Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

7

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

7

Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8

Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?

8

Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

9

For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

9

For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

10

Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

10

Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11

If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

11

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?

12

If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

12

If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

13

Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

13

Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

14

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

14

Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15

But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

15

But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

16

For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

16

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

17

For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

17

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

18

What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

18

What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [d]of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

19

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

19

Serving All Men

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

20

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

20

and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [e]law, that I might win those who are under the law;

21

To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

21

to those who are without law, as without law (not being without [f]law toward God, but under [g]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

22

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

22

to the weak I became [h]as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

23

Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

24

Striving for a Crown

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may [i]obtain it.

25

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

25

And everyone who competes for the prize [j]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

27

But I discipline my body and keep it under control,b lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

27

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Parallel

English Standard Version

New King James Version

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9