9 Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our lord?[1046] Are you not my work in the lord? 2 If to others I am not an Apostle, at least I am to you, because you are the evidence of my office as Apostle in the lord.
    3 My defense to those who are investigating me is this:  4 Do we not have a right to our food and drink?  5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, just like the rest of the Apostles, the brothers of the lord, and Peter?  6 Or do only Barnabas and I have to work another job? 7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who takes care of a flock and does not drink its milk?
    8 Am I saying these things based only on human authority, or does the Law not say the same thing?  9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You are not to put a muzzle on an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is God here concerned about oxen?  10 Or does He say this for our sake? Yes, this was written for us, because the one who plows ought to plow in hope, and the one who threshes ought to thresh in hope of sharing the harvest.  11 If we sowed spiritual seed in you, are we not entitled to harvest some material support from you?  12 If others have this right to receive support from you, should we not all the more? Yet we did not use this right, but we endure everything so that we will not hinder the Gospel of the Messiah.  13 Do you not understand that those who perform sacred service eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a portion of the sacrifice on the altar?  14 In the same way the Lord directed that those who proclaim the Gospel should earn their living by the Gospel.
    15 But I have not used any of these rights, and I do not write so that these things should be done in my case. I would rather die than allow anyone to make my boasting empty!  16 For if I proclaim the Gospel I have nothing to boast about, because it is something I am compelled to do.[1047] Alas for me if I do not proclaim the Gospel!  17 If I do this willingly, I receive a reward. But if unwillingly, it is still my responsibility.  18 What then is my reward? That when I proclaim the Gospel I may present the Gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the Gospel.
    19 Though I am free and a slave to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, so that I may win Jews. To those who are under the Law I became like someone under the Law — even though I myself am not under the Law — so that I may win those under the Law.  21 To those outside the Law I became like one outside the Law, not myself being outside the Law of God, but within the Law of Messiah,[1048] so that I may win those who are outside the Law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I may win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all this for the Gospel, so that I may participate in its blessings.
    24 Do you not understand that in a race everyone runs, but only one receives the prize? Then run so that you will win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a crown that does not last, but we a lasting crown.  26 So then I do not run like someone running without a goal. I do not fight like a boxer hitting the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into submission, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. [1049]