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1 Corinthians 9
New International Version
1 Corinthians 9
New International Version
Paul’s Rights as an Apostle
9 Am I not free?(A) Am I not an apostle?(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?(D) 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal(E) of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink?(F) 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife(G) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers(H) and Cephas[a]?(I) 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas(J) who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier(K) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard(L) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[b](M) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(N) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(O) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(P) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(Q) 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.(R) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(S) 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?(T) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(U)
15 But I have not used any of these rights.(V) 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.(W) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(X) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(Y) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(Z) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(AA) and so not make full use of my rights(AB) as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free(AC) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(AD) to win as many as possible.(AE) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(AF) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(AG) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(AH) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(AI) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(AJ) I have become all things to all people(AK) so that by all possible means I might save some.(AL) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(AM) Run(AN) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(AO) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(AP) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(AQ) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(AR) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(AS) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(AT)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
- 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
1 Corintios 9
La Biblia de las Américas
1 Corintios 9
La Biblia de las Américas
Pablo defiende su apostolado
9 ¿No soy libre(A)? ¿No soy apóstol(B)? ¿No he visto a Jesús nuestro Señor(C)? ¿No sois vosotros mi obra en el Señor(D)? 2 Si para otros no soy apóstol, por lo menos para vosotros sí lo soy; pues vosotros sois el sello(E) de mi apostolado(F) en el Señor.
3 Mi defensa contra[a] los que me examinan es esta: 4 ¿Acaso no[b] tenemos derecho a comer y beber(G)? 5 ¿Acaso no[c] tenemos derecho a llevar con nosotros una esposa creyente[d](H), así como los demás apóstoles y los hermanos del Señor(I) y Cefas(J)? 6 ¿O acaso solo Bernabé(K) y yo[e] no tenemos el derecho a no trabajar? 7 ¿Quién ha servido alguna vez como soldado(L) a sus propias expensas? ¿Quién planta una viña y no come de su fruto(M)? ¿O quién cuida un rebaño y no bebe[f] de la leche del rebaño? 8 ¿Acaso digo esto según el juicio humano[g](N)? ¿No dice también la ley esto mismo? 9 Pues en la ley de Moisés está escrito: No pondrás bozal al buey cuando trilla(O). ¿Acaso le preocupan a Dios los bueyes(P)? 10 ¿O lo dice especialmente por nosotros? Sí, se escribió por nosotros(Q), porque el que ara debe arar con esperanza, y el que trilla debe trillar con la esperanza de recibir de la cosecha(R). 11 Si en vosotros sembramos lo espiritual, ¿será demasiado que de vosotros cosechemos lo material(S)? 12 Si otros tienen este derecho sobre vosotros, ¿no lo tenemos aún más nosotros? Sin embargo, no hemos usado este derecho(T), sino que sufrimos todo para no causar estorbo(U) al evangelio de Cristo(V). 13 ¿No sabéis(W) que los que desempeñan los servicios sagrados comen la comida del templo, y los que regularmente sirven al altar, del altar reciben su parte(X)? 14 Así también ordenó el Señor que los que proclaman el evangelio(Y), vivan del evangelio(Z). 15 Mas yo de nada de esto me he aprovechado[h](AA). Y no escribo esto para que así se haga conmigo; porque mejor me fuera morir, que permitir que alguno me prive de esta gloria[i](AB). 16 Porque si predico[j] el evangelio, no tengo nada de qué gloriarme, pues estoy bajo el deber(AC) de hacerlo; pues ¡ay de mí si no predico[k] el evangelio(AD)! 17 Porque si hago esto voluntariamente, tengo recompensa(AE); pero si lo hago en contra de mi voluntad, un encargo[l](AF) se me ha confiado. 18 ¿Cuál es, entonces, mi recompensa(AG)? Que al predicar[m] el evangelio, pueda ofrecerlo[n] gratuitamente(AH) sin hacer pleno uso de mi derecho(AI) en el evangelio.
Celo evangelizador de Pablo
19 Porque aunque soy libre(AJ) de todos, de todos me he hecho esclavo(AK) para ganar(AL) al mayor número posible. 20 A los judíos me hice como judío, para ganar a los judíos; a los que están bajo la ley, como bajo la ley(AM) (aunque yo no estoy bajo la ley(AN)) para ganar a los que están bajo la ley; 21 a los que están sin ley(AO), como sin ley(AP) (aunque no estoy[o] sin la ley de Dios, sino bajo la ley de Cristo(AQ)) para ganar a los que están sin ley. 22 A los débiles me hice débil(AR), para ganar a los débiles; a todos me he hecho todo(AS), para que por todos los medios salve a algunos(AT). 23 Y todo lo hago por amor del evangelio, para ser partícipe de él.
Disciplina personal de Pablo
24 ¿No sabéis(AU) que los que corren en el estadio, todos en verdad corren, pero solo uno obtiene el premio(AV)? Corred(AW) de tal modo que ganéis. 25 Y todo el que compite(AX) en los juegos se abstiene de todo. Ellos lo hacen para recibir una corona(AY) corruptible, pero nosotros, una incorruptible. 26 Por tanto, yo de esta manera corro(AZ), no como sin tener meta; de esta manera peleo, no como dando golpes al aire(BA), 27 sino que golpeo[p] mi cuerpo(BB) y lo hago mi esclavo, no sea que habiendo predicado a otros, yo mismo sea descalificado.
Footnotes
- 1 Corintios 9:3 O, para con
- 1 Corintios 9:4 Lit., ¿No es que no
- 1 Corintios 9:5 Lit., ¿No es que no
- 1 Corintios 9:5 Lit., hermana, como mujer
- 1 Corintios 9:6 Lit., yo y Bernabé
- 1 Corintios 9:7 Lit., come
- 1 Corintios 9:8 Lit., hombre
- 1 Corintios 9:15 Lit., he usado
- 1 Corintios 9:15 Lit., que alguno haga vana mi jactancia
- 1 Corintios 9:16 O, anuncio
- 1 Corintios 9:16 O, anuncio
- 1 Corintios 9:17 O, una mayordomía
- 1 Corintios 9:18 O, anunciar
- 1 Corintios 9:18 Lit., ofrecer el evangelio
- 1 Corintios 9:21 Lit., no estando
- 1 Corintios 9:27 O, hiero
1 Corinthians 9
English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 9
English Standard Version
Paul Surrenders His Rights
9 (A)Am I not free? (B)Am I not an apostle? (C)Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? (D)Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are (E)the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 (F)Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 (G)Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife,[a] as do the other apostles and (H)the brothers of the Lord and (I)Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 (J)Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? (K)Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, (L)“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 (M)for our sake, because (N)the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 (O)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, (P)we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything (Q)rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that (R)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 (S)those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
15 But (T)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 (U)deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For (V)necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with (W)a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching (X)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19 For (Y)though I am free from all, (Z)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might (AA)win more of them. 20 (AB)To 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. 21 To (AC)those outside the law I became (AD)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but (AE)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 (AF)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. (AG)I have become all things to all people, that (AH)by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, (AI)that I may share with them in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives (AJ)the prize? So (AK)run that you may obtain it. 25 Every (AL)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we (AM)an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I (AN)do not box as one (AO)beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and (AP)keep it under control,[b] lest after preaching to others (AQ)I myself should be (AR)disqualified.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Greek a sister as wife
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave
New International Version (NIV) 
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.