Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, (A)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written (B)for our sake, because (C)the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 (D)If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, (E)we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything (F)rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that (G)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? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that (H)those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But (I)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 (J)deprive me of my ground for boasting.

Read full chapter

Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[a](A) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(B) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(C) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(D) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(E) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(F) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(G) the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(H) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(I)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(J) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(K)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4