| King James Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? | 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? |
| 2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. | 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, because you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. |
| 3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, | 3My defense to those who examine me is this: |
| 4Have we not power to eat and to drink? | 4Don't we have the right to eat and drink? |
| 5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? | 5Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas? |
| 6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? | 6Or do only Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from working? |
| 7Who 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? | 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock? |
| 8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? | 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, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? | 9For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned about oxen? |
| 10Or 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. | 10Isn't he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop. |
| 11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? | 11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? |
| 12If 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. | 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 everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ. |
| 13Do 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? | 13Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar? |
| 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. | 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel. |
| 15But 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. | 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 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! | 16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach--and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! |
| 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. | 17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission. |
| 18What 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. | 18What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel. |
| 19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. | 19Although I am free from all and not anyone's slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. |
| 20And 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; | 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 law--to win those under the law. |
| 21To 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. | 21To those who are without the law, 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 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. | 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. |
| 23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. | 23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings. |
| 24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. | 24Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. |
| 25And 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. | 25Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. |
| 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: | 26So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. |
| 27But 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. | 27Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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