哥林多前书 9
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
使徒的权利
9 我不是自由的吗?我不是使徒吗?我不是见过我们的主耶稣吗?你们不是我在主里面的工作吗? 2 对别人来说,我或许不是使徒,但对你们来说,我总是使徒,因为你们就是我在主里作使徒的印记。
3 对那些盘问我的人,这就是我的答辩。 4 难道我们没有权利吃喝吗? 5 难道我们没有权利,像其余的使徒、主的弟兄和矶法一样,带着信主的妻子往来吗? 6 难道只有我和巴拿巴没有权利不作工吗? 7 有谁当兵要自备粮饷呢?有谁栽种葡萄园,不吃园里的果子呢?有谁牧养羊群,不喝羊的奶呢? 8 我说这话,不是照着人的意见,律法不也是这样说吗? 9 就在摩西的律法上记着说:“牛踹谷的时候,不可笼住牠的嘴。”难道 神关心的只是牛吗? 10 这不全是为我们说的吗?当然是为我们说的,因为耕种的应当存着希望去耕种,收割的也应当存着希望去分享收获。 11 我们既然在你们中间撒了属灵的种子,如果要从你们那里收获一些物质的供应,这算是过分吗? 12 如果别人在你们身上享有这种权利,我们不是更可以享有吗?
所作的一切都是为了福音
然而我们没有用过这种权利,反而凡事容忍,免得我们拦阻了基督的福音。 13 难道你们不知道,在圣殿供职的,就吃殿中的供物;侍候祭坛的,就分领坛上的祭物吗? 14 主也曾这样吩咐,叫传福音的人靠福音为生。 15 但这种权利,我一点也没有用过。我写这些话,并不是想叫人这样待我,因为我宁可死,也不让人使我所夸耀的落了空。 16 我传福音原是没有可夸的,因我不能不传。如果不传福音,我就有祸了。 17 如果我甘心作这事,就有赏赐;即使不甘心,这职责还是托付我了。 18 那么,我的赏赐是甚么呢?就是我传福音时,叫人免费得着福音。这样,我就没有用过传福音可以享有的权利了。
19 我虽然自由,不受任何人管辖,但我自愿成为众人的奴仆,为的是要多得一些人。 20 对犹太人,我就作犹太人,为了要得着犹太人;对律法以下的人,虽然我自己不在律法之下,还是作了律法以下的人,为了要得着律法以下的人。 21 对没有律法的人,我就作了没有律法的人,其实我不是在 神的律法以外,而是在基督的律法之下,为了要得着没有律法的人。 22 对软弱的人,我就成了软弱的人,为了要得着软弱的人。对怎么样的人,我就作怎么样的人;无论如何,总要救一些人。 23 我所作的一切,都是为了福音的缘故,好让我与别人同享福音的好处。
24 难道你们不知道,在场上赛跑的人,虽然大家都跑,但得奖的只有一个人吗?你们都应当这样跑,好叫你们可以得奖。 25 凡参加运动比赛的,在一切事上都有节制;他们这样作,不过要得到能坏的冠冕,我们却是要得不朽的冠冕。 26 所以我奔跑,不是没有目标的;我斗拳,不是打空气的。 27 我要克制自己的身体,叫身体服我,免得我传了给别人,自己反而落选了。
1 Corinthians 9
King James Version
9 Am I am 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.
1 Corinthians 9
New King James Version
A Pattern of Self-Denial
9 Am (A)I not an apostle? Am I not free? (B)Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? (C)Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are (D)the [a]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 (E)Do we have no [b]right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along [c]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, (F)the brothers of the Lord, and (G)Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I (H)who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever (I)goes to war at his own expense? Who (J)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who (K)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, (L)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that (M)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 (N)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
(O)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things (P)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 (Q)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the (R)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so (S)the Lord has commanded (T)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But (U)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for (V)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for (W)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (X)I have a reward; but if against my will, (Y)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (Z)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [d]of Christ without charge, that I (AA)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
Serving All Men
19 For though I am (AB)free from all men, (AC)I have made myself a servant to all, (AD)that I might win the more; 20 and (AE)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [e]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 (AF)to (AG)those who are without law, as without law (AH)(not being without [f]law toward God, but under [g]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 (AI)to the weak I became [h]as weak, that I might win the weak. (AJ)I have become all things to all men, (AK)that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Striving for a Crown
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? (AL)Run in such a way that you may [i]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [j]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for (AM)an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: (AN)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 (AO)But I discipline my body and (AP)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become (AQ)disqualified.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 9:2 certification
- 1 Corinthians 9:4 authority
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. a sister, a wife
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 NU omits of Christ
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 NU adds though not being myself under the law
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU God’s law
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU Christ’s law
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 NU omits as
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 win
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.