Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
9 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord?
2 If I am not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you. For ye are the seal of mine apostleship in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to those who examine me is this:
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as do other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or is it I only and Barnabas who have not power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth to war at any time at his own expense? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man, or saith not the law the same also?
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.” Doth God take care for oxen,
10 or doth He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it so great a thing if we should reap your worldly things?
12 If others are partakers of this power over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that those who minister concerning holy things live of the things of the temple, and those who wait upon the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things; neither have I written, that these things should be so done unto me. For it would be better for me to die than that any man should make my glorying void.
16 For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory about, for necessity is laid upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensing of the Gospel is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the Gospel.
19 For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
21 to those who are outside the law, as outside the law (though not outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ), that I might gain those who are outside the law.
22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that those who run in a race all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain it.
25 And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, but not with uncertainty; I so fight, but not as one that beateth the air.
27 But I keep control of my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
10 Moreover, brethren, I would not have ye ignorant of how all of our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3 And all ate the same spiritual meat,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed — and three and twenty thousand fell in one day.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted — and were destroyed by serpents.
10 Neither should ye murmur, as some of them also murmured — and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them by way of example, and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless: is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break: is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we, being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one Bread.
18 Behold Israel according to the flesh: are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?
20 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wellbeing.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the meat market, that eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake;
26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27 If any of those who do not believe bid you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go, whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, “This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,” then eat it not for his sake who showed it, and for conscience’ sake; for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
29 I do not mean thine own conscience, but the other’s. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why is evil spoken of me for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God,
33 even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.