1 Corinthians 9:4–18

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. ¹³Have ye not known that those working about the things of the temple—of the temple do eat, and those waiting at the altar—with the altar are partakers? ¹⁴so also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.

¹⁵And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for it is good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void; ¹⁶for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is to me if I may not proclaim good news; ¹⁷for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly—with a stewardship I have been entrusted! ¹⁸What, then, is my reward?—that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news.