Chapter 9

  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?  

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  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.  

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  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,  

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  Have we not power to eat and to drink?  

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  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?  

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

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  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?  

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

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  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?  

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  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.  

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

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  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.  

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  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?  

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

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  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.  

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  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!  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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

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  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;  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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

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

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  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.  

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

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  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.  

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