Paul’s Use of Freedom

Am I not (A)free? Am I not an (B)apostle? Have I not (C)seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not (D)my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the (E)seal of my (F)apostleship in the Lord.

My defense to those who examine me is this: [a](G)Do we not have a right to eat and drink? [b](H)Do we not have a right to take along a [c]believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the (I)brothers of the Lord, and [d](J)Cephas? Or do only [e](K)Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from [f]working? Who at any time serves (L)as a soldier at his own expense? Who (M)plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not [g]consume some of the milk of the flock?

I am not just asserting these things (N)according to human judgment, am I? Or does the Law not say these things as well? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “(O)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.” God is not concerned about (P)oxen, is He? 10 Or is He speaking entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written (Q)for our sake, because (R)the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing in the crops. 11 (S)If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we (T)did not use this right, but we endure all things (U)so that we will cause no hindrance to the (V)gospel of Christ. 13 (W)Do you not know that those who (X)perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share [h]from the altar? 14 So also (Y)the Lord directed those who proclaim the (Z)gospel to (AA)get their living from the gospel.

15 But I have (AB)used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make (AC)my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for (AD)I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach (AE)the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a (AF)reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a (AG)commission nonetheless. 18 What, then, is my (AH)reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel (AI)without charge, so as (AJ)not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

19 For though I am (AK)free from all people, I have made myself (AL)a slave to all, so that I may (AM)gain more. 20 (AN)To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though (AO)not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are (AP)without the Law, I became (AQ)as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but (AR)under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the (AS)weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become (AT)all things to all people, (AU)so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

24 (AV)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives (AW)the prize? (AX)Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who (AY)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable (AZ)wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I (BA)run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as [i]to avoid (BB)hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline (BC)my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

10 For (BD)I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all (BE)under the cloud and they all (BF)passed through the sea; and they all were (BG)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and they all (BH)ate the same spiritual food, and all (BI)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was [j]Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were (BJ)spread out in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as (BK)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as (BL)they indeed craved them. Do not be (BM)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “(BN)The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to (BO)play.” Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as (BP)some of them [k]did, and (BQ)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as (BR)some of them [l]did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Nor (BS)grumble, as some of them [m]did, and (BT)were killed by the (BU)destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an (BV)example, and (BW)they were written for our instruction, upon whom (BX)the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let the one who (BY)thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and (BZ)God is faithful, [n]so He will not allow you to be (CA)tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my (CB)beloved, flee from (CC)idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the (CD)cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the (CE)bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we (CF)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at [o]the people of (CG)Israel; are those who (CH)eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or (CI)that an idol is [p]anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they (CJ)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 (CK)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (CL)the table of demons. 22 Or do we (CM)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not (CN)stronger than He, are we?

23 (CO)All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things [q](CP)build people up. 24 No one is to (CQ)seek his own advantage, but rather that of his [r]neighbor. 25 (CR)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 (CS)for the earth is the Lords, and [s]all it contains. 27 If (CT)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, (CU)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But (CV)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for (CW)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (CX)why am I slandered about that for which I (CY)give thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or (CZ)whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 (DA)Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or (DB)the church of God; 33 just as I also (DC)please everyone in all things, (DD)not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, (DE)so that they may be saved.

Christian Order

11 (DF)Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Now (DG)I praise you because you (DH)remember me in everything and (DI)hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you. But I want you to understand that Christ is the (DJ)head of every man, and [t](DK)the man is the head of a woman, and God is the (DL)head of Christ. Every man who has something on his head while praying or (DM)prophesying disgraces his head. But every (DN)woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for it is one and the same as the woman [u]whose head is (DO)shaved. For if a woman does not cover [v]her head, have her also [w]cut her hair off; however, if it is disgraceful for a woman to [x]have her hair cut off or [y]her head shaved, have her cover [z]her head. For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the (DP)image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For (DQ)man [aa]does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but (DR)woman for the man’s sake. 10 Therefore the woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman [ab]independent of man, nor is man [ac]independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and (DS)all things originate (DT)from God. 13 (DU)Judge [ad]for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16 But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, (DV)we have no [ae]such practice, nor have (DW)the churches of God.

17 Now in giving this next instruction (DX)I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together [af]as a church, I hear that [ag](DY)divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there also (DZ)have to be factions among you, (EA)so that those who are approved may become [ah]evident among you. 20 Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while (EB)another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the (EC)church of God and (ED)shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall (EE)I praise you? In this I do not praise you.

The Lord’s Supper

23 For (EF)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that (EG)the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He also took (EH)the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the (EI)new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death (EJ)until He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way, shall be (EK)guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a person must (EL)examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the [ai]body. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number [aj](EM)are asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are (EN)disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with (EO)the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is (EP)hungry, have him eat (EQ)at home, so that you do not come together for judgment. As to the remaining matters, I will (ER)give instructions (ES)when I come.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:4 Lit It is not that we have no right to eat and drink, is it?
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit It is not that we have no right to take along...Cephas, is it?
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Lit sister, as a wife
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Peter’s Aramaic name
  5. 1 Corinthians 9:6 Lit I and Barnabas
  6. 1 Corinthians 9:6 I.e., to support themselves
  7. 1 Corinthians 9:7 Lit eat from
  8. 1 Corinthians 9:13 Lit with
  9. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Lit not hitting
  10. 1 Corinthians 10:4 I.e., the Messiah
  11. 1 Corinthians 10:8 Lit committed sexual immorality
  12. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Lit made trial
  13. 1 Corinthians 10:10 Lit grumbled
  14. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Lit who will not
  15. 1 Corinthians 10:18 Lit Israel according to the flesh
  16. 1 Corinthians 10:19 I.e., anything real
  17. 1 Corinthians 10:23 Or edify
  18. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Lit the other
  19. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Lit its fullness
  20. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or the head of a woman is her husband
  21. 1 Corinthians 11:5 Lit who is shaved
  22. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit herself
  23. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit shear herself
  24. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit shear herself
  25. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit herself
  26. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit herself
  27. 1 Corinthians 11:8 Lit is not from
  28. 1 Corinthians 11:11 Lit without
  29. 1 Corinthians 11:11 Lit without
  30. 1 Corinthians 11:13 Lit among
  31. 1 Corinthians 11:16 I.e., the one advocated by Paul’s opponents
  32. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Lit in church
  33. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Or dissensions
  34. 1 Corinthians 11:19 Or recognizable
  35. 1 Corinthians 11:29 I.e., body of the Lord
  36. 1 Corinthians 11:30 I.e., are dead

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

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) 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.

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink?(F) 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) Or is it only I and Barnabas(J) who lack the right to not work for a living?

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? 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.”[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)

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant(AU) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud(AV) and that they all passed through the sea.(AW) They were all baptized into(AX) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food(AY) and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock(AZ) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.(BA)

Now these things occurred as examples(BB) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters,(BC) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[c](BD) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.(BE) We should not test Christ,[d](BF) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.(BG) 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did(BH)—and were killed(BI) by the destroying angel.(BJ)

11 These things happened to them as examples(BK) and were written down as warnings for us,(BL) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.(BM) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm,(BN) be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[e] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;(BO) he will not let you be tempted[f] beyond what you can bear.(BP) But when you are tempted,[g] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(BQ) flee from idolatry.(BR) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(BS) a participation in the body of Christ?(BT) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(BU) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(BV) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(BW) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(BX) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.(BY) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(BZ) Are we stronger than he?(CA)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(CB) “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.(CC)

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,(CD) 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[h](CE)

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(CF) without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.(CG) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(CH) being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?(CI)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(CJ) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(CK) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(CL) 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(CM) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(CN) so that they may be saved.(CO) 11 Follow my example,(CP) as I follow the example of Christ.(CQ)

On Covering the Head in Worship

I praise you(CR) for remembering me in everything(CS) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.(CT) But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,(CU) and the head of the woman is man,[i](CV) and the head of Christ is God.(CW) Every man who prays or prophesies(CX) with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies(CY) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.(CZ) For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

A man ought not to cover his head,[j] since he is the image(DA) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;(DB) neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.(DC) 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[k] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.(DD)

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.(DE)

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper(DF)

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you,(DG) for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions(DH) among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.(DI) 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.(DJ) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God(DK) by humiliating those who have nothing?(DL) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?(DM) Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord(DN) what I also passed on to you:(DO) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,(DP) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(DQ) in my blood;(DR) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(DS)

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(DT) 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves(DU) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.(DV) 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.(DW) 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined(DX) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.(DY)

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry(DZ) should eat something at home,(EA) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come(EB) I will give further directions.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts test the Lord
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  7. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Greek for temptation and tempted can also mean testing and tested.
  8. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1
  9. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or of the wife is her husband
  10. 1 Corinthians 11:7 Or Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. A man ought not to have long hair
  11. 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or have a sign of authority on her