1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 9 ©

1 Paul vindicateth his apostolical character, 3 and right to a maintenance from the churches; 15 though he relinquished that right for the furtherance of the gospel, not content with doing only his indispensable duty; 19 but voluntarily subjecting himself in many points, where he was otherwise free, in order thereby to win over more converts to Christ. 24 Those who contend for a corruptible crown use much labour and abstinence; 26 so doth the apostle strive for one that is incorruptible.

1

AM aI not an apostle? bam I not free? chave I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? dare not ye my work in the Lord?

a Ro. 1.1. 2Co. 11.5; 12.11,12. 1Ti. 2.7. 2Ti. 1.11. Ac. 9.15; 13.2,3; 22.21; 26.17,18. Ga. 1.19; 2.7.
b Ga. 5.1,13. v.19. 1Pe. 2.16.
c ch. 15.8. Ac. 9.3,5,17; 22.11,17,18; 23.11; 26.16.
d ch. 3.5,6,9,10; 4.15. Ac. 18.9-11. 2Co. 3.2,3; 12.12.
2

If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for ethe seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

e 2Co. 3.2; 13.3.
3

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4

fHave we not power to eat and to drink?

f v.14. Lu. 10.7. 1Th. 2.6,9. 2Th. 3.8,9. ch. 4.12. v.18,19.
5

gHave we not power to lead about ha sister, a 1wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and iCephas?

g 1Ti. 4.3. He. 13.4. Mat. 8.14; 12.46; 13.55. Jn. 2.12. Ac. 1.14. Mar. 6.3. Lu. 6.15. Ga. 1.19.
h ch. 7.15.
i ch. 1.12.
6

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

j 2Th. 3.8,9. 1Th. 2.6,7. Ac. 20.34. ch. 4.12.
7

kWho 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?

k De. 20.6. Pr. 27.18. ch. 3.6-8. 2Co. 10.4,5. 1Ti. 1.18; 6.12. 2Ti. 2.3; 4.7. Jn. 21.15-17. Ac. 20.28. 1Pe. 5.2.
8

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

l Ro. 3.5.
9

For it is written in the law of Moses, mThou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

m De. 25.4. 1Ti. 5.18. Pr. 12.10. Ex. 23.4. Jonah 4.11.
10

nOr 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.

n Ro. 15.4. 2Ti. 2.6.
11

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

o Ro. 15.27. Mat. 10.10. Ga. 6.6. Mal. 3.8,9.
12

If others be partakers of this power over you, are pnot we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, qlest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

p Ac. 20.31,33,34. 2Co. 11.7-9,12; 12.13,14. 1Th. 2.6-9. 2Th. 3.8,9.
q 2Co. 6.3.
13

rDo ye not know that they which minister about holy things 2live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

r Le. 6.16,26; 7.6,31,32. Nu. 5.9,10; 18.8-20. De. 10.9; 18.1. ch. 10.18.
14

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

s Mat. 10.10. Lu. 10.7,8. Ga. 6.6. 1Ti. 5.17,18. Je. 31.14. 1Ti. 5.8. Is. 23.18.
15

tBut 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.

t Ac. 18.3; 20.34. ch. 4.12. 2Th. 3.8. 2Co. 11.9-11; 12.13-18.
16

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for unecessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

u Je. 1.17; 20.9. Am. 3.8; 7.15. Ac. 9.6,15; 13.2; 22.14,15,21; 26.16-18. Ro. 1.14. Ga. 1.1,12.
17

For if I do this thing willingly, vI have a reward: but if against my will, wa *dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

v ch. 3.8,14. 1Pe. 5.4. Jn. 4.36.
w Lu. 10.7. ch. 4.1. Ga. 2.7. Phi. 1.17. Col. 1.25. Ep. 3.2,8. 1Ti. 1.11,12. Mat. 20.10,14.
18

What is my reward then? x*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.

x ch. 4.12. Ac. 20.34; 18.3. 2Co. 11.9,12; 12.13-18. 1Th. 2.6-9. 2Th. 3.8,9. ch. 7.31; 10.33. 2Co. 4.5; 11.7.
19

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

y v.1,20-23. Ro. 15.2. 1Ti. 4.16. ch. 10.33. Ga. 5.13. 1Pe. 3.1. Ro. 1.14.
20

And zunto 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;

z Ac. 16.3; 18.18; 17.2,3; 21.20-26. Ga. 4.21.
21

aTo them that are without law, as without law, (being bnot without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

a Ro. 2.12. Ac. 15.28; 21.25. Ga. 2.3,4,11-14; 3.2. 2Co. 3.6.
b ch. 7.19,22; 10.32. Ps. 116.16; 119.32.
22

cTo 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.

c Ro. 15.1. 2Co. 11.29. Ga. 6.1,2. ch. 3.1,2; 10.33; 7.16. Ro. 11.14. v.19-23.
23

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

d ch. 10.24; 15.31. 1Pe. 4.11. 2Th. 3.1. 2Ti. 2.10; 1.8.
24

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

e v.15,26. Ho. 12.10. ch. 3.1. Jn. 3.12. Ga. 3.15.
f Mat. 10.22. He. 12.1,2. Re. 2.10. Phi. 3.13,14; 2.16. Ga. 2.2; 5.7; 6.9. He. 12.28. 2Ti. 4.7,8; 2.4,5. Ep. 6.12. 1Ti. 6.12.
25

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible gcrown; but we han incorruptible.

g 2Ti. 2.5; 4.8.
h 2Ti. 4.7,8. Ja. 1.12. 1Pe. 1.4; 5.4. Re. 2.10; 3.11.
26

I therefore so run, not as iuncertainly; so fight I, not as one that jbeateth the air:

i 2Ti. 2.5; 4.8; 1.12. 2Co. 5.1.
j ch. 14.9.
27

But kI keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be la *castaway.

k Ro. 6.4,6,18,19; 8.13. Col. 3.5. ch. 4.11. 2Ti. 2.15. 1Ti. 4.7,8. 2Co. 11.23. Ep. 5.3.
l Je. 6.30. 2Co. 13.5,6,7.