rd

1 Corinthians 9

He exhorteth them by his example to use their liberty to the edification of other. 24 To run on forth in the course that they have begun.
1.Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work in the Lord?
2.If I be not an Apostle unto other, yet doubtless I am unto you: for ye are the aseal of mine Apostleship in the Lord.
3.My defence to them bthat examine me, it this,
4.Have we not power to eat cand to drink?
5.Or have we not power to dlead about a wife being a esister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the ^brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6.Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power fnot to work?
7.Who goeth a warfare any time at his own cost? 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 according to man? saith not the Law the same also?
9.For it is written in the Law of Moses, *Thou shalt not mussel the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn: doeth God take gcare for oxen?
10.Either saith he it not all together for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should eare in hope: & that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
11.*If we have sowen unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?
12.If others with you be partakers of this hpower, are not we rather? nevertheless, we have not used this power: but ^suffer all things, that we should not hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13.Do ye not know, that they which minister about the *holie things, eat of the things of the Temple? and they which wait at the altar, are partakers iwith the altar?
14.So also 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 wrote I these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my krejoicing vain.
16.For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of: for necessity is laid upon me, and wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.
17.For if I do it willingly, I have a reward: but if I do it against my will, lnotwithstanding the dispensation is committed unto me.
18.What is my reward then? verily that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ mfree that I abuse not mine authority in the Gospel.
19.For though I be free from all men, yet have I made my self servant unto all men, that I might win the mo.
20.*And unto the Jews I become as a Jew, that I may win the Jews: to them that are under the Law, as though I were under the nLaw, that I may win them that are under the Law:
21.To them that are without law, as though I were without law (when I am not without Law as pertaining to God, but am in the Law through Christ) that I may win them that are without Law.
22.To the weak I become as weak, that I may win the weak: I am made oall 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, yet one receiveth the prize? so run, that ye may obtain.
25.And every man that proveth masteries, pabsteineth from all things: and they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we for an uncorruptible.
26.I therefore so run, not as uncertainly: so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.
27.But I beat down my qbody, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means after that I have preached to other, I my self should be rreproved.

Notes

2-a.
I need no further declaration but the work that I have wrought among you.
3-b.
And call into doubt mine office.
4-c.
On the Church charges.
5-^.
Or, cousins?
5-d.
The Apostles led their wives about with them.
5-e.
A faithful and Christian wife.
6-f.
Whether they might not as lawfully live without labouring for their living with their own hands, as other Apostles.
9-*.
Deu. 25.4, 1 Tim. 5.18.
9-g.
Had God respect proper to the oxen themselves when he made this Law, and not rather unto men?
11-*.
Rom. 15.27.
12-^.
Or, take in morthe (silence?).
12-h.
To live on other men’s charges?
13-*.
Deu. 18.1.
13-i.
For the part that was burnt, was devoured of the altar, and the other was due unto the Priests by the Law.
15-k.
For now you have no just cause against me, seeing that I preached the Gospel freely unto you.
17-l.
Seeing he is charged to preach, he must willingly and earnestly follow it: for if he do it by constraints, he does not his duty.
18-m.
That I be not changeable to them unto whom I preach, seeing that they think that I preach for gains.
20-*.
Act. 16.3, Gal. 2.3.
20-n.
As touching the ceremonies.
22-o.
In things indifferent, as eating of meats, observation of feasts and days and such like, he fashioned himself to men in such sort as he might best gain them to Christ.
25-p.
That is, keeps a strict diet and refrains from such things as might distemper his body.
27-q.
Or, old man which rebels against the Spirit.
27-r.
Lest he should be reproved of men when they should see him do contrary, or contemn the thing which he taught others to do.