1 Corinthians 9

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?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren't you the results of my work in the Lord?

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.

Even if I'm not an apostle to others, at least I am one to you. The proof of my being an apostle of the Lord is you!

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

Here is my reply to those who question me about this:

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Don't we have the right to be provided with food and drink?

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?

Don't we have a right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the rest of the apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Peter?

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

Is it only Barnabas and myself who have to work to support ourselves?

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?

Which soldier ever had to pay his own salary? Who plants a vineyard and doesn't get to eat its fruits? Who feeds a flock and doesn't consume its milk?

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

Am I just speaking from a human point of view? Doesn't the law say the same thing?

9 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?

In the law of Moses it's written, “Don't muzzle the ox when it's threshing out the grain.” Was God just thinking about oxen?

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.

Wasn't he directing this at us? Surely this was written for us—for anyone who plows should plow in hope and anyone who threshes should hope to share in the harvest.

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

If we sowed what is spiritual with you, does it really matter if we reap some material benefit?

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.

If others exercise this right over you, don't we deserve it even more? Even so we did not exercise this right. On the contrary we would rather put up with anything than hold back the gospel of Christ.

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?

Don't you know that those who work in temples receive their meals from temple offerings, and those that serve at the altar receive their portion of the sacrifice on the altar?

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

In just the same way the Lord ordered that those who announce the good news should live from supporters of the good news.

15 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.

But I have not made use of any of these provisions, and I'm not writing about this to suggest it should be done in my case. I'd rather die than to have anyone take away my pride in not having received any benefit.

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 not the gospel!

I have nothing to boast about in sharing the good news because it's something I feel compelled to do. In fact it's dreadful for me if I don't share the good news!

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.

If I'm doing this work because of my own choice, then I have a reward. But if it wasn't my choice, and an obligation was placed on me,

18 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.

then what reward do I have? It's the opportunity to share the good news without charging for it, not demanding my rights as a worker for the good news.

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

Even though I am free and serve no one, I have placed myself in service to everyone so that I might gain more.

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;

To the Jews I behave like a Jew so that I might win Jews. To those who are under the law I behave as someone under the law (even though I am not obligated under the law), so that I might win those under the law.

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.

To those who don't operate according to the law, I behave like them, (though not disregarding God's law, but operating under the law of Christ), so that I might gain those who don't observe the law.

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.

To those who are weak, I share in their weakness so that I may win the weak. I have ended up being “everyman” to everyone so that by using every possible means I might win some!

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

I do all this for the sake of the good news so that I too may share in its blessings!

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

Wouldn't you agree that there are many runners in a race, but only one gets the prize? So run your best, so you may win!

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.

Every competitor who participates in the games maintains a strict training discipline. Of course they do so to win a crown that doesn't last. But our crowns will last forever!

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

That's why I run straight in the right direction. I fight accurately, not punching the air.

27 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.

I also treat my body severely to bring it under my control, for I don't want somehow to be disqualified after sharing the good news with everybody else.