1 Corinthians 9

Paul defends his rights as an apostle (continued)

Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ
1
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?
εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ
2
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.
Ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσιν αὕτη ἐστίν
3
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν
4
Have we not power to eat and to drink?
μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ Κηφᾶς
5
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?
ἢ μόνος ἐγὼ καὶ Βαρναβᾶς οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι
6
Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working?
τίς στρατεύεται ἰδίοις ὀψωνίοις ποτέ τίς φυτεύει ἀμπελῶνα καὶ ἐκ τοῦ καρποῦ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐσθίει ἢ τίς ποιμαίνει ποίμνην καὶ ἐκ τοῦ γάλακτος τῆς ποίμνης οὐκ ἐσθίει
7
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?
Μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ ἢ οὐχὶ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα λέγει
8
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
ἐν γὰρ τῷ Μωσέως νόμῳ γέγραπται Οὐ φιμώσεις βοῦν ἀλοῶντα μὴ τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ θεῷ
9
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not the mouth of muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
ἢ δι' ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει δι' ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη ὅτι ἐπ' ἐλπίδι ὀφείλει ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν τῆς ἐλπίδος αὐτοῦ μετέχειν ἐπ' ἐλπίδι
10
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.
εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῖν τὰ πνευματικὰ ἐσπείραμεν μέγα εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῶν τὰ σαρκικὰ θερίσομεν
11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
εἰ ἄλλοι τῆς ἐξουσίας ὑμῶν μετέχουσιν οὐ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς Ἀλλ οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ταύτῃ ἀλλὰ πάντα στέγομεν ἵνα μὴ ἐγκοπήν τινα δῶμεν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ
12
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.
οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερὰ ἐργαζόμενοι ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐσθίουσιν οἱ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ προσεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται
13
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?
οὕτως καὶ ὁ κύριος διέταξεν τοῖς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον καταγγέλλουσιν ἐκ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ζῆν
14
Even so the Lord hath ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Paul gives up his rights to preach free of charge

ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδενὶ ἐχρησάμην τούτων οὐκ ἔγραψα δὲ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί· καλὸν γάρ μοι μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τὸ καύχημά μου ἵνα τις κενώσῃ
15
But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be done so unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make void. my glorying
ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ δέ μοι ἐστὶν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι
16
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 the gospel! not
εἰ γὰρ ἑκὼν τοῦτο πράσσω μισθὸν ἔχω· εἰ δὲ ἄκων οἰκονομίαν πεπίστευμαι·
17
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.
τίς οὖν μοί ἐστιν ὁ μισθός ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀδάπανον θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς τὸ μὴ καταχρήσασθαι τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ μου ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ
18
What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of without Christ charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

All things to all men

Ἐλεύθερος γὰρ ὢν ἐκ πάντων πᾶσιν ἐμαυτὸν ἐδούλωσα ἵνα τοὺς πλείονας κερδήσω·
19
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made servant myself unto all, that I might gain the more.
καὶ ἐγενόμην τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὡς Ἰουδαῖος ἵνα Ἰουδαίους κερδήσω· τοῖς ὑπὸ νόμον ὡς ὑπὸ νόμον ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον κερδήσω·
20
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;
τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος μὴ ὢν ἄνομος θεῷ ἀλλ' ἔννομος Χριστῷ ἵνα κερδήσω ἀνόμους·
21
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.
ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ὡς ἀσθενής ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω· τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα τὰ πάντα ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω
22
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.
τοῦτο δὲ ποιῶ διὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἵνα συγκοινωνὸς αὐτοῦ γένωμαι
23
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Running the race for an incorruptible crown

Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐν σταδίῳ τρέχοντες πάντες μὲν τρέχουσιν εἷς δὲ λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον οὕτως τρέχετε ἵνα καταλάβητε
24
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος πάντα ἐγκρατεύεται ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν ἵνα φθαρτὸν στέφανον λάβωσιν ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄφθαρτον
25
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.
ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτως τρέχω ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως οὕτως πυκτεύω ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων·
26
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
ἀλλ' ὑπωπιάζω μου τὸ σῶμα καὶ δουλαγωγῶ μήπως ἄλλοις κηρύξας αὐτὸς ἀδόκιμος γένωμαι
27
But I keep under my body, and bring into subjection: it lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Places in 1 Corinthians 9

People, Places & Things in 1 Corinthians 9