9Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?G1510G3756G652G1510G3756G1658G3780G3708G2424G5547G2257G2962G2075G3756G5210G3450G2041G1722G29622If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.G1487G1510G3756G652G243G235G1065G1510G5213G1063G4973G1699G651G2075G5210G1722G29623This is my defense to those who would examine me.G1699G627G350G1691G2076G37784Do we not have the right to eat and drink?G2192G3378G1849G5315G2532G40955Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?G2192G3378G1849G4013G79G1135G5613G2532G3062G652G2532G80G2962G2532G27866Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?G2228G1473G3441G2532G921G2192G3756G2192G1849G3361G20387Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?G5101G4754G4218G2398G3800G5101G5452G290G2532G2068G3756G1537G2590G846G2228G5101G4165G4167G2532G2068G3756G1537G1051G41678Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?G2980G5023G3361G2596G444G2228G3004G3780G3551G5023G25329For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?G1063G1125G1722G3551G3475G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G3361G3199G2316G3199G101610Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.G2228G3004G3843G1223G2248G1223G1223G2248G1223G1063G1125G3754G722G3784G722G1909G1680G2532G248G1680G3348G1909G846G168011If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?G1487G2249G4687G5213G4152G3173G1487G2249G2325G5216G455912If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.G1487G243G3348G1849G5216G3756G2249G3123G235G5530G3756G5530G5026G1849G235G4722G3956G3363G1325G5100G1464G2098G554713Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?G1492G3756G1492G3754G2038G2413G2068G1537G2411G4332G2379G4829G237914In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.G2532G3779G1299G2962G1299G2605G2098G2198G1537G209815But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.G1161G1473G5530G3762G5130G1161G3756G1125G5023G2443G1096G3779G1096G1722G1698G1063G3123G3427G599G2570G2228G2443G5100G2758G3450G2745G275816For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!G1063G1437G2097G3427G2076G3756G2745G1063G318G1945G3427G1161G3759G2076G3427G3362G2097G3362G209717For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.G1063G1487G4238G5124G1635G2192G3408G1161G1487G210G3622G410018What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.G5101G2076G3427G3408G3767G2443G2097G5087G2098G5547G77G1519G2710G3361G3450G1849G1722G209819For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.G1063G5607G1658G1537G3956G1402G1683G1402G3956G2443G2770G411920To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.G2532G2453G1096G5613G2453G2443G2770G2453G5259G3551G5613G5259G3551G2443G2770G5259G355121To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.G459G5613G459G5607G3361G459G2316G235G1772G5547G2443G2770G45922To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.G772G1096G5613G772G2443G2770G772G1096G3956G3956G2443G4982G3843G4982G510023I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.G1161G5124G4160G1223G2098G1223G2443G1096G4791G846G479124Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.G1492G3756G3754G5143G1722G4712G5143G3956G3303G1161G1520G2983G1017G3779G5143G2443G263825Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.G1161G3956G75G1467G3956G3303G3767G1565G2443G2983G5349G4735G1161G2249G86226So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.G1473G5106G3779G5143G3756G5613G84G3779G4438G3756G5613G1194G10927But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.G235G5299G3450G4983G2532G1396G3381G4458G2784G243G846G1096G96
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.
Columbus, OH
