1 Corinthians

Addresses issues in the Corinthian church, teaching on unity, love, and resurrection.

Chapter 9

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?

*Am I not a messenger? Am I not able to do as I wish? Have I not met Jesus, our leader? Aren't you the result of my work for God?

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.

*If I'm not an apostle to others, I still am to you. You prove my apostleship to God.

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

*My response to those who question me is this,

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

*Do we not have the ability to eat and 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?

*Do we not have the authority to guide a sister and wife, just like other apostles, and as brothers of the Lord and Peter?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

*Do you mean, is it just me and Barnabas who can choose not to work?

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?

*Who pays for their own battles? Who plants a vineyard but doesn't eat its grapes? Or who raises sheep but doesn't drink their milk?

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

*Am I saying these things like a regular person? Or doesn't the law say the same thing too?

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?

*The verse says that it's written in the law given to Moses that you shouldn't tie up an ox's mouth while it's eating the grain. Does God worry about 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.

*Is he saying this just for our benefit? Because of us, it is written that the person who plows should do so with hope, and the person who threshes should also share in that hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

*If we have shared spiritual ideas with you, is it unfair if we get physical things in return?

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.

*If others have some control over you, then shouldn't we too? But we don't use that control. Instead, we allow everything to happen so as not to get in the way of the teachings 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?

*Do you not understand that those who serve in sacred activities get their living from the temple, and those who assist at the altar share in the offerings made there?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

*Just like that, the Lord has decided that those who spread the good news should live from the good news.

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.

*I haven't done or written any of these things; I don't want them done to me either. It's better for me to die than for someone to ruin my pride.

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!

*Even though I teach about the good news, I have no reason to be proud. I must do it because it's required of me. If I don't preach the good news, I feel terrible.

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.

*If I choose to do this, I get a reward; but if it's not my choice, I am given the responsibility of spreading the gospel.

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.

*So, what do I get out of this? The thing is, when I teach about Jesus, I want to do it for free, so I don't misuse my authority in sharing the good news.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

*Even though I am free from everyone's control, I choose to serve all of them so that I can benefit even 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;

*I acted like a Jew for the Jews, following their laws, so I could reach those who follow these laws.

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.

*To those who don't follow laws, like them in not following laws, (but not really without law since they follow it under Christ,) so I can reach out to those who don't follow laws.

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.

*I acted weak to help those who were weak. I changed to fit different people's needs so I could save some of them.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

*I do this for the message's benefit, so we can both share in it together.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

*Do you not understand that everyone in a race tries, but only one gets the prize? So, run in a way that you can win.

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.

*Anyone who competes for top position is moderate in everything. They do it for a temporary prize, but we fight for an eternal one.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

*I run and fight with purpose, not randomly or like someone punching at nothing.

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.

*I control my body and make it obey me, so that I don't fail in my mission to teach others, or else I might be lost too.

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