Dual Panel1Am I <1510> not <3756> free <1658>? Am I <1510> not <3756> an apostle <652>? Have <3780> I <3708> not seen <3708> Jesus <2424> our <2257> Lord <2962>? Are <1510> you <5210> not <3756> my <3450> work <2041> in <1722> the Lord <2962>?
2If <1487> I am <1510> not <3756> an apostle <652> to others <243>, at least <1065> I am <1510> to you <5213>, for <1063> you <5210> are <1510> the confirming sign <4973> of my <3450> apostleship <651> in <1722> the Lord <2962>.
3This <3778> is <1510> my <1699> defense <627> to those who examine <350> me <1691>.
4Do <3361> we <2192> not <3756> have <2192> the right <1849> to financial support <5315> <2532> <4095>?
5Do <3361> we <2192> not <3756> have <2192> the right <1849> to the company <79> of a believing <4013> wife <1135>, like <5613> the other <3062> apostles <652> and <2532> the Lord’s <2962> brothers <80> and <2532> Cephas <2786>?
6Or <2228> do only <3441> Barnabas <921> and <2532> I <1473> lack <3756> <2192> the right <1849> not <3361> to work <2038>?
7Who <5101> ever serves in the army <4754> at his own <2398> expense <3800>? Who <5101> plants <5452> a vineyard <290> and <2532> does <2068> not <3756> eat <2068> its <846> fruit <2590>? Who <5101> tends <4165> a flock <4167> and <2532> does <2068> not <3756> consume <2068> its <4167> milk <1051>?
8Am I saying <2980> these things <5023> only on the basis of <2596> common sense <444>, or <2228> does the law <3551> not <3756> say <3004> this <5023> as well?
9For <1063> it is written <1125> in the law <3551> of Moses <3475>, “Do <5392> not <3756> muzzle <5392> an ox <1016> while <248> it is treading out the grain <248>.” God is not <3361> concerned <3199> here about oxen <1016>, is he?
10Or <2228> is he <3004> not surely speaking <3004> for <1063> our benefit? It was written <1125> for <1223> us <2248>, because the one plowing <722> and <2532> threshing <248> ought <3784> to work in <1909> hope <1680> of enjoying the harvest <3348>.
11If <1487> we <2249> sowed <4687> spiritual blessings <4152> among you <5213>, is it too much <3173> to reap <2325> material things <4559> from you <2249>?
12If <1487> others <243> receive this right <1849> from you <5216>, are we <3348> not <3756> more <3123> deserving <3348>? But <235> we have <5530> not <3756> made use <5530> of this <3778> right <1849>. Instead <235> we endure <4722> everything <3956> so that <2443> we may <1325> not <3361> be <1325> a hindrance <1464> to the gospel <2098> of Christ <5547>.
13Don’t <3756> you know <1492> that <3754> those who serve <2038> in the temple <2413> eat food <2068> from <1537> the temple <2411>, and those who serve <4332> at the altar <2379> receive a part <4829> of the offerings?
14In the same way <3779> the Lord <2962> commanded <1299> those who proclaim <2605> the gospel <2098> to receive <2198> their living <2198> by <1537> the gospel <2098>.
15But <1161> I <1473> have <5530> not <3756> used <5530> any of these <5130> rights. And I am <1125> not <3756> writing <1125> these things <5023> so that <2443> something will be done <1096> for <1722> me <1698>. In fact, it would be better <2570> for <1063> me <3427> to die <599> than <2228>– no one <3762> will deprive <2758> me of my <3450> reason for boasting <2745>!
16For <1063> if <1437> I preach <2097> the gospel, I <3427> have <1510> no <3756> reason <318> for boasting <2745>, because <1063> I <3427> am compelled <1945> to do this. Woe <3759> to me <3427> if <1437> I do <2097> not <3361> preach the gospel <2097>!
17For <1063> if <1487> I do <4238> this <5124> voluntarily <1635>, I have <2192> a reward <3408>. But <1161> if <1487> I do it unwillingly <210>, I am entrusted with a responsibility <4100>.
18What <5101> then <3767> is <1510> my <3450> reward <3408>? That <2443> when <2097> I preach the gospel <2097> I may offer <5087> the gospel <2098> free of charge <77>, and so <1519> not <3361> make full use <2710> of my <3450> rights <1849> in <1722> the gospel <2098>.
19For <1063> since I am <1510> free <1658> from <1537> all <3956> I can make <1402> myself <1683> a slave <1402> to all <3956>, in order <2443> to gain <2770> even more people <4119>.
20To the Jews <2453> I became <1096> like <5613> a Jew <2453> to gain <2770> the Jews <2453>. To those under <5259> the law <3551> I became like <5613> one under <5259> the law <3551> (though I myself am not <3361> under <5259> the law <3551>) to gain <2770> those under <5259> the law <3551>.
21To those free from the law <459> I became like <5613> one free from the law <459> (though I am not <3361> free from <459> God’s <2316> law <459> but <235> under the law <1772> of Christ <5547>) to <2443> gain <2770> those free from the law <459>.
22To the weak <772> I became <1096> weak <772> in order <2443> to gain <2770> the weak <772>. I have become <1096> all things <3956> to all people <3956>, so that <2443> by all means <3843> I may save <4982> some <5100>.
23I do <4160> all these things <3956> because of <1223> the gospel <2098>, so that <2443> I can be <1096> a participant <4791> in it <846>.
24Do you <1492> not <3756> know <1492> that <3754> all <3956> the runners in <1722> a stadium <4712> compete <5143>, but <1161> only one <1520> receives <2983> the prize <1017>? So <3779> run <5143> to <2443> win <2638>.
25Each competitor <3956> must exercise <75> self-control <1467> in everything <3956>. They do it to <2443> receive <2983> a perishable <5349> crown <4735>, but <1161> we <2249> an imperishable one <862>.
26So <5106> <3779> I <1473> do <5143> not <3756> run <5143> uncertainly <84> or <3779> box <4438> like <5613> one who hits <1194> only <3756> air <109>.
27Instead <235> I subdue <5299> my <3450> body <4983> and <2532> make it <1396> my slave <1396>, so that <4458> after preaching <2784> to others <243> I <1096> myself <846> will <1096> not <3361> be <1096> disqualified <96>.