This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink?(A) Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife(B) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers(C) and Cephas[a]?(D) Or is it only I and Barnabas(E) who lack the right to not work for a living?

Who serves as a soldier(F) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard(G) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter

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.