1 Corinthians 9:4-18

Paul Surrenders His Rights

4 o Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 p Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, 1 as do the other apostles and q the brothers of the Lord and r Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 s Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? t Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, u "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written v for our sake, because w the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 x If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, y we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything z rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that a 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? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that b those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But c 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 d deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For e necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with f a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching g I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:14
    In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
    1 Thessalonians 2:6
    Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 2:9
    For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
    2 Thessalonians 3:8 - 9
    Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:7
    I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 12:46
    While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 8:14
    And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.
    John 1:42
    He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).
  5. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 10:4
    For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
    1 Timothy 1:18
    This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.
    2 Timothy 2:3 - 4
    Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:6 - 8
    I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
    Deuteronomy 20:6
    And is there any man who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit.
    Proverbs 27:18
    Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
    Song of Solomon 8:12
    My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
  7. Cross References
    1 Timothy 5:18
    For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages.
    Deuteronomy 25:4
    You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
  8. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 25:4
    You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 4:24
    But for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord.
  10. Cross References
    2 Timothy 2:6
    It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
  11. Cross References
    Romans 15:27
    For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
    Galatians 6:6
    One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
  12. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:15
    But 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.
    1 Corinthians 9:18
    What 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.
    Acts 20:33
    I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:3
    We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
    2 Corinthians 11:12
    And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
  14. Cross References
    Leviticus 6:16
    And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat...
    Leviticus 6:26
    The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. ...
    Leviticus 7:6
    Every male among the priests may eat of it. It ...
    Numbers 5:9 - 10
    And every contribution, all the holy donations ...
    Numbers 18:8 - 20
    Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, "Behold, I have g...
    Deuteronomy 18:1
    The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, s...
  15. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:4
    Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
    Matthew 10:10
    No bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
  16. Cross References
    Acts 18:3
    And because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
  17. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:10
    As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 4:20
    For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.
    Acts 9:6
    But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
    Romans 1:14
    I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
  19. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:1
    This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
    Galatians 2:7
    On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
    Philippians 1:16
    The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
  20. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:7
    Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge?
    2 Corinthians 12:13
    For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.