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Chapter 9
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1
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Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen
Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? |
2
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If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I
am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in
the Lord.
Do We
Still Have Apostles? - |
3
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Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, |
4
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Have we not power to eat and to drink? |
5
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Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as
well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord,
and Cephas? |
6
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Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear
working? |
7
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Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who
planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof?
or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of
the flock? |
8
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Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the
same also? |
9
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For 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? |
10
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Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes,
no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should
plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should
be partaker of his hope. |
11
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If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a
great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? |
12
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If others be partakers of this power over you, are
not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power;
but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel
of Christ. |
13
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Do ye not know that they which minister about holy
things live of the things of the temple? and they which
wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? |
14
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Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach
the gospel should live of the gospel. |
15
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But I have used none of these things: neither have
I written these things, that it should be so done unto
me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man
should make my glorying void. |
16
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For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory
of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me,
if I preach not the gospel! |
17
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For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward:
but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel
is committed unto me. |
18
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What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach
the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge,
that I abuse not my power in the gospel. |
19
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For though I be free from all men, yet have I made
myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. |
20
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And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain
the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the
law, that I might gain them that are under the law; |
21
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To them that are without law, as without law, (being
not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law. |
22
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To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the
weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by
all means save some. |
23
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And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be
partaker thereof with you. |
24
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Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. |
25
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And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible
crown; but we an incorruptible. |
26
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I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I,
not as one that beateth the air: |
27
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But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,
I myself should be a castaway. |
