¶ Am I not an¹ apostle? am I not free²? have³ I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are⁴ not ye my work in the Lord?

If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for⁵ the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

¶ Mine answer⁶ to them⁷ that do examine me is this,

Have we⁸ not power to eat and to drink?

Have we not power to lead⁹ about a sister¹⁰, a wife¹¹, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas¹²?

Or I only and Barnabas¹³, have¹⁴ not we power to forbear working?

Who goeth¹⁵ a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth¹⁶ a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or¹⁷ who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk¹⁸ of the flock?

Say I these things as¹⁹ a man? or²⁰ saith not the law the same also?

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou²¹ shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth²² God take care for oxen?

¶ Or saith he it altogether for²³ our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth²⁴ should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If we have sown²⁵ unto you spiritual things, is it a great²⁶ thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

If others²⁷ be partakers of this power over you, are not²⁸ we rather? Nevertheless²⁹ we have not used this power; but³⁰ suffer all things, lest we should hinder³¹ the gospel of Christ.

Do ye not know that they³² which minister about holy things live³³ of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Even so hath the Lord ordained³⁴ that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

¶ But I have³⁵ used none of these things: neither³⁶ have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for³⁷ it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

For though I preach the gospel, I have³⁸ nothing to glory of: for³⁹ necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe⁴⁰ is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

For if I⁴¹ do this thing willingly, I have⁴² a reward: but if against⁴³ my will, a dispensation⁴⁴ of the gospel is committed unto me.

What is my reward then? Verily that, when⁴⁵ I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I⁴⁶ abuse not my power in the gospel.

¶ For though I be⁴⁷ free from all men, yet have I made⁴⁸ myself servant unto all, that⁴⁹ I might gain the more.

¶ And unto⁵⁰ the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under⁵¹ the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

To them⁵² that are without law, as without law, (being not⁵³ without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

To the weak⁵⁴ became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am⁵⁵ made all things to all men, that I might by⁵⁶ all means save some.

And this I do for⁵⁷ the gospel's sake, that⁵⁸ I might be partaker thereof with you.

¶ Know ye not that they⁵⁹ which run in⁶⁰ a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run⁶¹, that ye may obtain.

And every man that striveth⁶² for the mastery is temperate⁶³ in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but⁶⁴ we an incorruptible.

I therefore so run, not⁶⁵ as uncertainly; so⁶⁶ fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

But I keep⁶⁷ under my body, and⁶⁸ bring it into subjection: lest⁶⁹ that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway⁷⁰.