New King James Version

Darby Bible Translation

A Pattern of Self-Denial

Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

1

The Rights of the Apostles

Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not *ye* my work in [the] Lord?

2

If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the [a]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

2

If I am not an apostle to others, yet at any rate I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are *ye* in [the] Lord.

3

My defense to those who examine me is this:

3

My defence to those who examine me is this:

4

Do we have no [b]right to eat and drink?

4

Have we not a right to eat and to drink?

5

Do we have no right to take along [c]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

5

have we not a right to take round a sister [as] wife, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6

Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

6

Or *I* alone and Barnabas, have we not a right not to work?

7

Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

7

Who ever carries on war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who herds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock?

8

Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

8

Do I speak these things as a man, or does not the law also say these things?

9

For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?

9

For in the law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that is treading out corn. Is God occupied about the oxen,

10

Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

10

or does he say [it] altogether for our sakes? For for our sakes it has been written, that the plougher should plough in hope, and he that treads out corn, in hope of partaking of [it].

11

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?

11

If we have sown to you spiritual things, [is it a] great [thing] if *we* shall reap your carnal things?

12

If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

12

If others partake of this right over you, should not rather *we*? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, that we may put no hindrance in the way of the glad tidings of the Christ.

13

Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

13

Do ye not know that they who labour [at] sacred things eat of the [offerings offered in the] temple; they that attend at the altar partake with the altar?

14

Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

14

So also the Lord has ordained to those that announce the glad tidings to live of the glad tidings.

15

But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

15

But *I* have used none of these things. Now I have not written these things that it should be thus in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die than that any one should make vain my boast.

16

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

16

For if I announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.

17

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

17

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration.

18

What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [d]of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

18

What is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless [to others], so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in [announcing] the glad tidings.

19

Serving All Men

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

19

Paul a Servant to All

For being free from all, I have made myself bondman to all, that I might gain the most [possible].

20

and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [e]law, that I might win those who are under the law;

20

And I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain the Jews: to those under law, as under law, not being myself under law, in order that I might gain those under law:

21

to those who are without law, as without law (not being without [f]law toward God, but under [g]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

21

to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain [those] without law.

22

to the weak I became [h]as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

22

I became to the weak, [as] weak, in order that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, in order that at all events I might save some.

23

Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

23

And I do all things for the sake of the glad tidings, that I may be fellow-partaker with them.

24

Striving for a Crown

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may [i]obtain it.

24

Run Your Race to Win

Know ye not that they who run in [the] race-course run all, but one receives the prize? Thus run in order that ye may obtain.

25

And everyone who competes for the prize [j]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

25

But every one that contends [for a prize] is temperate in all things: *they* then indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but *we* an incorruptible.

26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

26

*I* therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air.

27

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

27

But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest [after] having preached to others I should be myself rejected.

Parallel

New King James Version

Darby Bible Translation

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 9