New Living Translation

King James Bible

Paul Gives Up His Rights

Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?

1

The Rights of the Apostles

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?

2

Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

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.

3

This is my answer to those who question my authority.a

3

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4

Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?

4

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5

Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wifeb with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peterc does?

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?

6

Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

6

Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7

What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?

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?

8

Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?

8

Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9

For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”d Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?

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?

10

Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

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.

11

Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?

11

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12

If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.

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.

13

Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.

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?

14

In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

14

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15

Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.

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.

16

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

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!

17

If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.

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.

18

What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

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.

19

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

19

Paul a Servant to All

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20

When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.

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;

21

When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,e I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

21

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.

22

When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

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.

23

I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

23

And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

24

Run Your Race to Win

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

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.

26

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

26

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

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.

Parallel

New Living Translation

King James Bible

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9