New Living Translation

New King James Version

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

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

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 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 answer to those who question my authority.a

3

My defense to those who examine me is this:

4

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

4

Do we have no [b]right to eat and 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

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 to work to support ourselves?

6

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

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

8

Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say 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, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

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 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

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 spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material 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 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

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 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 ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

14

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

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 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

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

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? 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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

23

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

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

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

26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats 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 discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9