1 AM I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do 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 well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? 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 saith he 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 a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? 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 they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were 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 of: 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 dispensation 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 be 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 them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I 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 they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? haue I not seene Iesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my worke in the Lord?

2If I bee not an Apostle vnto others, yet doubtlesse I am to you: for the seale of mine Apostleship are yee in the Lord.

3Mine answere to them that doe examine me, is this:

4Haue wee not power to eate and to drinke?

5Haue we not power to lead about a sister a wife aswel as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or I onely and Barnabas, haue not we power to forbeare working?

7Who goeth a warfare any time at his owne charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruite thereof? or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke?

8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the Law the same also?

9For it is written in the Law of Moyses, Thou shalt not muzzell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: doth God take care for oxen?

10Or saith hee it altogether for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that hee that ploweth, should plow in hope: and that hee that thresheth in hope, should bee partaker of his hope.

11If we haue sowen vnto you spirituall things, is it a great thing if wee shall reape your carnall things?

12If others bee partakers of this power ouer you, are not we rather? Neuerthelesse, we haue not vsed this power: but suffer all things, lest wee should hinder the Gospel of Christ.

13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things, liue of the things of the Temple? and they which wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar?

14Euen so hath the Lord ordeined, that they which preach the Gospel, should liue of the Gospel.

15But I haue vsed none of these things. Neither haue I written these things, that it should bee so done vnto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my glorying voyd.

16For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to glorie of: for necessitie is laid vpon mee, yea, woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.

17For if I doe this thing willingly, I haue a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed vnto me.

18What 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.

19For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all, that I might gaine the more.

20And vnto the Iewes, I became as a Iew, that I might gaine the Iewes: to them that are vnder the Law, as vnder the Law, that I might gaine them that are vnder the Law:

21To them that are without Law, as without Law (being not without Law to God, but vnder the Law to Christ,) that I might gaine them that are without Law.

22To the weake became I as weake, that I might gaine the weake: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.

23And this I doe for the Gospels sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24Know yee not that they which runne in a race, runne all, but one receiueth the price? So runne, that yee may obtaine.

25And euery man that striueth for the masterie, is temperate in all things: Now they doe it to obtaine a corruptible crowne, but we an incorruptible.

26I therefore so runne, not as vncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre:

27But I keepe vnder my body, and bring it into subiection: lest that by any meanes when I haue preached to others, I my selfe should be a castaway.

I == Acts 9:3 , 15 , 17 ; 13:2 ; 18:9 ; 22:14 , 18 ; 23:11 ; 26:17 ; 1st Cor 9:19 ; 15:8 ; 2nd Cor 12:12 ; 1st Thess 2:6

II ==2nd Cor 3:2 ; 12:12

IV == 1st Cor 9:14 ; 1st Thess 2:6

V == Matt 8:14 ; 12:46 ; 13:55 ; Mark 6:3 ; Luke 6:15 ; John 1:42 ; 1st Cor 7:7-8

VI == Acts 4:36

VII == Deut 20:6 ; Prov 27:18 ; John 21:15

IX == Deut 25:4 ; 1st Tim 5:18

XI == Rom 15:27 ; Gal 6:6

XII == Acts 20:33 ; 1st Thess 2:6

XIII == Lev 6:16 , 26 ; 7:6

XIV == Matt 10:10

XV == Acts 18:3 ; 20:34 ; 1st Thess 2:9 ; 2nd Cor 11:10

XVI == Rom 1:14

XVII == Phil 1:17 ; 1st Cor 4:1 ; Gal 2:7

XVIII == 2nd Cor 11:7

XIX == Matt 18:15

XX == Acts 16:3 ; 18:18 ; 21:23 ; Rom 11:14

XXI == Rom 2:12 , 14 ; Gal 3:2

XXII == Rom 11:14 ; 15:1

XXIV Phil 2:16 ; 3:14 ; 2nd Tim 4:7

XXV == Eph 6:12 ; 1st Tim 6:12 ; 2nd Tim 2:5

 

 

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 Although I may not be an apostle for others, certainly I am for you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 My defense against those who would pass judgment on me is this. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Kephas? 6 Or is it only myself and Barnabas who do not have the right not to work? 7 Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating its produce? Or who shepherds a flock without using some of the milk from the flock? 8 Am I saying this on human authority, or does not the law also speak of these things? 9 It is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is God concerned about oxen, 10 or is he not really speaking for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of receiving a share. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed for you, is it a great thing that we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Yet we have not used this right. On the contrary, we endure everything so as not to place an obstacle to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform the temple services eat (what) belongs to the temple, and those who minister at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel. 15 I have not used any of these rights, however, nor do I write this that it be done so in my case. I would rather die. Certainly no one is going to nullify my boast. 16 If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! 17 If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law - though I myself am not under the law - to win over those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became like one outside the law - though I am not outside God's law but within the law of Christ - to win over those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. 23 All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. 24 Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. 25 Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 26 Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. 27 No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. 

v1-6.  Chapter 8 raises other issues of Christian liberty. Paul could claim to be an apostle because he saw Christ on the Damascus road. These believers were the fruit and seal of his apostleship. As apostles, he and Barnabas had the right, or liberty, to do as they chose, even to having the churches provide their financial support. Paul also had the right, v 5 to take a believing (not pagan) wife. Compare my  notes on 7:7.

v 7-14.  To prove his point, soldiers were paid, farmers were paid by their crops and shepherds by their flocks. He quotes Deut. 25:4 to show that even an ox trampling the grain was entitled the wage of food. God didn’t write that just for the benefit of the ox but for our benefit. Also the priests and others laboring about the temple received their portion. It was only reasonable that if he preached spiritual things he should be reimbursed in material things. The Lord had ordained that the preachers of the gospel were to be supported by people who had received the gospel. However,

v12, Paul had not used that right in order that the people would have no cause to speak against him. He even made tents as part of his support, Acts 18:3.

v15-18.  Paul had not exercised that right, and was not writing this to gain money. He felt compelled to preach the gospel and was willing to suffer financial in order that he could preach the gospel without hindrance or charge to them. 

v20-23.  When in Jerusalem Paul observed (for practice, not salvation) Jewish ceremonies, even paying the vows for four men, Acts 21:20-26. See also Acts 16:3; 22; 26:5. Among the Gentiles he did not require Jewish ceremonies, Gal. 4:12; 2 Cor. 11:29, hoping to reach more both places. He was made all things to all men, v22. This of course doesn’t mean we should sin, use drugs to witness to drug dealers or join false religions to reach them.

v24-27.  To use Christian liberty effectively, a Christian must discipline himself. He illustrates this by the foot race and their type of boxing with loaded , nail studded arm and wrist bands. The runner must train rigorously to win, and the Christians needed to be in self control, disciplined against sin and indifference. The Olympic winners received the wreath on the “Bema”, or raised platform on which the judges sat. In addition to the wreath, he was exempt from military service for life. Education was paid for all of his family. He was exempt from all taxes for life. A hole was broken in the wall of his house, which he then crawled through. Then a bronze plaque with his and his family’s name inscribed was fitted into the hole for permanent recognition. All of that was nothing compared to the rewards in eternity. For Paul to be a castaway (disapproved or rejected) was not loss of salvation but loss of rewards.
Illustration of one of the Olympic runners who won the gold medal a few years ago. When the judges examined him, he was found to have illegal substances in his body, so he was disapproved or rejected. He did not face a firing squad for this, but he lost his gold medal reward