Study Desk

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

If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the seal^(a) of my apostleship in the Lord.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

Don't we have the right to eat and drink?^(b)

Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife^[a] like the other apostles,^(c) the Lord's brothers, and Cephas?^(d)

Or do Barnabas^(e) and I alone have no right to refrain from working?

Who ever goes to war at his own expense?^(f) Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock?

Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn't the law also say the same thing?

For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox ^(g) while it treads out grain. ^(h)[b] Is God really concerned with oxen?

Or isn't He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us,⁽ⁱ⁾ because he who plows ought to plow in hope,^(j) and he who threshes should do so in hope of sharing the crop.^(k)

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?

If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don't we even more? However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything^(l) so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.

Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar^(m) share in the offerings of the altar?

In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.⁽ⁿ⁾

But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted^(o) with a stewardship.

What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.^(p)

Although I am a free man and not anyone's slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win^(q) more people.

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law^[c]—to win those under the law.^(r)

To those who are without that law,^(s) like one without the law—not being without God's law but within Christ's law—to win those without the law.

To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.^(t)

Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.^[d]

Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race,^(u) but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.^(v)

Now everyone who competes exercises self-control^(w) in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown^(x) that will fade away,^(y) but we a crown that will never fade away.

Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air.

Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.^(z)

Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers^(a) were all under the cloud,^(b) all passed through the sea,^(c)

and all were baptized^(d) into Moses^(e) in the cloud and in the sea.

They all ate the same spiritual food,^(f)

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock^(g) that followed them, and that rock was Christ.^(h)

But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.⁽ⁱ⁾

Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire^(j) evil things as they did.^[a](k)

Don't become idolaters^(l) as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play. ^[b](m)[c]

Let us not commit sexual immorality⁽ⁿ⁾ as some of them did,^[d] and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.^(o)

Let us not test Christ as some of them did^[e] and were destroyed by snakes.^(p)

Nor should we complain^(q) as some of them did,^[f](r) and were killed by the destroyer.^[g](s)

Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us,^(t) on whom the ends of the ages^(u) have come.^(v)

So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.^(w)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful,^(x) and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape^(y) so that you are able to bear it.

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

The cup^(z) of blessing^(aa) that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread^(ab) that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one^(ac) body, for all of us share that one bread.

Look at the people of Israel.^[h] Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?^(ad)

What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

No, but I do say that what they^[i] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons!

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons.

Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?^(ae)

"Everything is permissible,"^[j][k] but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible,"^[l] but not everything builds up.

No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.^(af)

Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake,

for the earth is the Lord's, ^(ag) and all that is in it. ^(ah)[m]

If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience.

But if someone says to you, "This is food offered to an idol," do not eat it,^(ai) out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience' sake.^[n]

I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person's. For why is my freedom judged^(aj) by another person's conscience?

If I partake with thanks,^(ak) why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory.^(al)

Give no offense^(am) to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God,

just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,^(an) so that they may be saved.