1 non sum liber non sum apostolus
nonne Iesum Dominum nostrum
vidi
non opus meum vos estis in Domino
2 si aliis non sum apostolus
sed tamen vobis sum
nam signaculum apostolatus mei vos estis in Domino
3 mea defensio apud eos qui me interrogant haec est
4 numquid non habemus potestatem manducandi et bibendi
5 numquid non habemus potestatem
sororem mulierem circumducendi
sicut et ceteri apostoli et fratres Domini et Cephas
6 aut solus ego et Barnabas non habemus potestatem
hoc operandi
7 quis militat suis stipendiis umquam
quis plantat vineam et fructum eius non edit
quis pascit gregem et de lacte gregis non manducat
8 numquid secundum hominem haec dico
an et lex haec non dicit
9 scriptum est enim in lege Mosi non alligabis os bovi trituranti
numquid de bubus cura est Deo
10 an propter nos utique dicit
nam propter nos scripta sunt
quoniam debet in spe qui arat arare
et qui triturat in spe fructus percipiendi
11 si nos vobis spiritalia seminavimus
magnum est si nos carnalia vestra metamus
12 si alii potestatis vestrae participes sunt
non potius nos
sed non usi sumus hac potestate
sed omnia sustinemus
ne quod offendiculum demus evangelio Christi
13 nescitis quoniam qui in sacrario operantur
quae de sacrario sunt edunt
qui altario deserviunt cum altario participantur
14 ita et Dominus ordinavit his qui evangelium adnuntiant
de evangelio vivere
15 ego autem nullo horum usus sum
non scripsi autem haec ut ita fiant in me
bonum est enim mihi magis mori
quam ut gloriam meam quis evacuet
16 nam si evangelizavero non est mihi gloria
necessitas enim mihi incumbit
vae enim mihi est si non evangelizavero
17 si enim volens hoc ago mercedem habeo
si autem invitus dispensatio mihi credita est
18 quae est ergo merces mea
ut evangelium praedicans
sine sumptu ponam evangelium
ut non abutar potestate mea in evangelio
19 nam cum liber essem ex omnibus omnium me servum feci
ut plures lucri facerem
20 et factus sum Iudaeis tamquam Iudaeus ut Iudaeos lucrarer
21 his qui sub lege sunt quasi sub lege essem
cum ipse non essem sub lege
ut eos qui sub lege erant lucri facerem
his qui sine lege erant tamquam sine lege essem
cum sine lege Dei non essem
sed in lege essem Christi
ut lucri facerem eos qui sine lege erant
22 factus sum infirmis infirmus ut infirmos lucri facerem
omnibus omnia factus sum ut omnes facerem salvos
23 omnia autem facio propter evangelium ut particeps eius efficiar
24 nescitis quod hii qui in stadio currunt
omnes quidem currunt sed unus accipit bravium
sic currite ut conprehendatis
25 omnis autem qui in agone contendit ab omnibus se abstinet
et illi quidem ut corruptibilem coronam accipiant
nos autem incorruptam
26 ego igitur sic curro non quasi in incertum
sic pugno non quasi aerem verberans
27 sed castigo corpus meum et in servitutem redigo
ne forte cum aliis praedicaverim ipse reprobus efficiar
1 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 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. 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 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 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 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 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 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 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 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 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 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 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 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 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 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 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 For though I be free from all men , yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 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 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 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 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you . 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 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 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 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.