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My defense to those who examine me is this: (A)Do we not have authority to eat and drink? (B)Do we not have authority to take along a [a]believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the (C)brothers of the Lord and (D)Cephas? Or do only [b](E)Barnabas and I not have authority to refrain from working? Who at any time serves (F)as a soldier at his own expense? Who (G)plants a vineyard and does not [c]consume the fruit of it? Or who shepherds a flock and does not [d]consume the milk of the flock?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit sister, as wife
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:6 Lit I and Barnabas
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:7 Lit eat of
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:7 Lit eat of

This is my answer to those who question my authority.[a] Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife[b] with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter[c] does? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?

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Footnotes

  1. 9:3 Greek those who examine me.
  2. 9:5a Greek a sister a wife.
  3. 9:5b Greek Cephas.