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Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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;

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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?

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

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?

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

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?

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

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.