| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? | 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? |
| 2If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. | 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, because you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. |
| 3This is my defense to those who would examine me. | 3My defense to those who examine me is this: |
| 4Do we not have the right to eat and drink? | 4Don't we have the right to eat and drink? |
| 5Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? | 5Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas? |
| 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? | 6Or do only Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from working? |
| 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? | 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock? |
| 8Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? | 8Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn't the law also say the same thing? |
| 9For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? | 9For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned about oxen? |
| 10Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. | 10Isn't he really saying it for our sake? Yes, this is written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing the crop. |
| 11If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? | 11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? |
| 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. | 12If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don't we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right; instead, we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ. |
| 13Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? | 13Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar? |
| 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. | 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel. |
| 15But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. | 15For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! |
| 16For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! | 16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach--and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! |
| 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. | 17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission. |
| 18What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. | 18What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my rights in the gospel. |
| 19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. | 19Although I am free from all and not anyone's slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. |
| 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. | 20To 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--to win those under the law. |
| 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. | 21To those who are without the law, like one without the law--though I am not without God's law but under the law of Christ--to win those without the law. |
| 22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. | 22To 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. |
| 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. | 23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings. |
| 24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. | 24Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. |
| 25Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. | 25Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. |
| 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. | 26So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. |
| 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. | 27Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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