1
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Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? |
2
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If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. |
3
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My defence to them that examine me is this. |
4
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Have we no right to eat and to drink? |
5
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Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? |
6
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Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? |
7
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What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? |
8
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Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same? |
9
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For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, |
10
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or saith he it altogether for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, {cf15i to thresh} in hope of partaking. |
11
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If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? |
12
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If others partake of {cf15i this} right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. |
13
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Know ye not that they which minister about sacred things eat {cf15i of} the things of the temple, {cf15i and} they which wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? |
14
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Even so did the Lord ordain that they which proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel. |
15
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But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case: for {cf15i it were} good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. |
16
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For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. |
17
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For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. |
18
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What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel. |
19
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For though I was free from all {cf15i men}, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. |
20
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And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; |
21
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to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law. |
22
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To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. |
23
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And I do all things for the gospel-s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. |
24
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Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run, that ye may attain. |
25
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And every man that striveth in the games is temperate in all things. Now they {cf15i do it} to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. |
26
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I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: |
27
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but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. |
1-Corinthians 9:2 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
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