1 Corinthians 9:4–18

⁴Have not we power to eat and to drink?

⁵Have we not power to carry about a woman, a sister as well as the rest of the apostles and the brethren of the Lord and Cephas?

⁶Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to do this?

⁷Who serveth as a soldier, at any time, at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth the flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

⁸Speak I these things according to man? Or doth not the law also say; these things?

⁹For 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?

¹⁰Or doth he say this indeed for our sakes? For these things are written for our sakes: that he that plougheth, should plough in hope and he that thrasheth, in hope to receive fruit.

¹¹If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things?

¹²If others be partakers of this power over you, why not we rather? Nevertheless, we have not used this power: but we bear all things, lest we should give any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

¹³Know you not that they who work in the holy place eat the things that are of the holy place; and they that serve the altar partake with the altar?

¹⁴So also the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

¹⁵But I have used none of these things. Neither have I written these things, that they should be so done unto me: for it is good for me to die rather than that any man should make my glory void.

¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me: for a necessity lieth upon me. For woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

¹⁷For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation is committed to me.

¹⁸What is my reward then? That preaching the gospel, I may deliver the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.