12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

(A)Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things (B)lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 (C)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the (D)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so (E)the Lord has commanded (F)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But (G)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for (H)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 (I)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (J)I have a reward; but if against my will, (K)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (L)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [a]of Christ without charge, that I (M)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:18 NU omits of Christ

12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, (A)we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything (B)rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that (C)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 (D)those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But (E)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 (F)deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For (G)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 (H)a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching (I)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Read full chapter

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.(A) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(B) 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?(C) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(D)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(E) 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.(F) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(G) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(H) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(I) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(J) and so not make full use of my rights(K) as a preacher of the gospel.

Read full chapter