Paul’s Example as an Apostle
1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
3My defense to those who examine me is this:
8Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
9For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox9:9 Lk 13:15 while it treads out grain.9:9Dt 25:49:9 Dt 25:4 Is God really concerned about oxen?
10Isn’t he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake,9:10 Rm 4:24 because he who plows ought to plow in hope,9:10 Ac 23:6; 1Th 1:3 and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop.9:10 2Tm 2:6
11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?
12If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right; instead, we endure everything9:12 Ac 20:33–35; 2Co 6:3–10; 11:7–12 so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.
13Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar9:13 Lv 6:16,26; 7:6,31–32; Nm 5:9–10; 18:8–20,31; Dt 18:1 share in the offerings of the altar?
14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.9:14 Mt 10:8–10; Lk 10:7
15For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!
16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach9:16 Lit because necessity is laid upon me — and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
19Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win9:19 1Pt 3:1 more people.
20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law — though I myself am not under the law9:20 Other mss omit though I myself am not under the law — to win those under the law.9:20 Ac 16:3; 21:23–26
21To those who are without the law,9:21 Rm 2:12,14; Gl 2:3; 3:2 like one without the law — though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ — to win those without the law.
22To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.9:22 Rm 11:14; 1Co 7:16
23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.
24Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race,9:24 Jd 3 but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.9:24 Col 2:18
25Now everyone who competes exercises self-control9:25 Gl 5:23 in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown,9:25 1Pt 1:18; 5:4 but we an imperishable crown.
26So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air.
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