1 Corinthians 9

¹Am not I an apostle? am not I free? Jesus Christ our Lord have I not seen? my work are not ye in the Lord?

²if to others I am not an apostle — yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.

³My defence to those who examine me in this;

⁴have we not authority to eat and to drink?

⁵have we not authority a sister — a wife — to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

⁶or only I and Barnabas, have we not authority — not to work?

⁷who doth serve as a soldier at his own charges at any time? who doth plant a vineyard, and of its fruit doth not eat? or who doth feed a flock, and of the milk of the flock doth not eat?

⁸According to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?

⁹for in the law of Moses it hath been written, 'thou shalt not muzzle an ox treading out corn;' for the oxen doth God care?

¹⁰or because of us by all means doth He say [it]? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading [ought] of his hope to partake in hope.

¹¹If we to you the spiritual things did sow — great [is it] if we your fleshly things do reap?

¹²if others do partake of the authority over you — not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.