Book 46 1 Corinthians Chapter 009


009:001	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?
009:002	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.
009:003	Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
009:004	Have we not power to eat and to drink?
009:005	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?
009:006	Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
009:007	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?
009:008	Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
009:009	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?
009:010	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.
009:011	If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
009:012	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.
009:013	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?
009:014	Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
009:015	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.
009:016	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!
009:017	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.
009:018	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.
009:019	For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
009:020	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;
009:021	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.
009:022	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.
009:023	And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
009:024	Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
009:025	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.
009:026	I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
009:027	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.