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Chapter 9
The Rights of an Apostle
1
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? vvv Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you [yourselves] not my workmanship in [the] Lord?
εἰμὶ Οὐκ ἐλεύθερος εἰμὶ οὐκ ἀπόστολος οὐχὶ ἑόρακα Ἰησοῦν ἡμῶν τὸν Κύριον ἐστε ὑμεῖς οὐ τὸ μου ἔργον ἐν Κυρίῳ eimi Ouk eleutheros eimi ouk apostolos ouchi heoraka Iēsoun hēmōn ton Kyrion este hymeis ou to mou ergon en Kyriō — NA/TR · 1
2
Even if I am not an apostle to others, vvv surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in [the] Lord.
εἰ εἰμὶ οὐκ ἀπόστολος ἄλλοις ἀλλά γε εἰμι ὑμῖν γὰρ ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἡ σφραγίς μου τῆς ἀποστολῆς ἐν Κυρίῳ ei eimi ouk apostolos allois alla ge eimi hymin gar hymeis este hē sphragis mou tēs apostolēs en Kyriō — NA/TR · 2
3
This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
αὕτη ἐστιν Ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἀνακρίνουσίν ἐμὲ hautē estin Hē emē apologia tois anakrinousin eme — NA/TR · 3
4
Have we no… right to food and to drink?
ἔχομεν μὴ οὐκ ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν echomen mē ouk exousian phagein kai pein — NA/TR · 4
5
Have we no… right to take along a believing wife, as [do] the other apostles and the vvv Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
ἔχομεν μὴ οὐκ ἐξουσίαν περιάγειν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ τοῦ Κυρίου ἀδελφοὶ καὶ Κηφᾶς echomen mē ouk exousian periagein adelphēn gynaika hōs kai hoi loipoi apostoloi kai hoi tou Kyriou adelphoi kai Kēphas — NA/TR · 5
6
Or {are} Barnabas and I the only [ apostles ] who must… work for a living?
ἢ Βαρνάβας καὶ ἐγὼ μόνος οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι ē Barnabas kai egō monos ouk echomen exousian mē ergazesthai — NA/TR · 6
7
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and vvv does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and vvv does not drink of vvv [its] milk?
Τίς ποτέ στρατεύεται ἰδίοις ὀψωνίοις τίς φυτεύει ἀμπελῶνα καὶ οὐκ ἐσθίει αὐτοῦ τὸν καρπὸν ἢ τίς ποιμαίνει ποίμνην καὶ οὐκ ἐσθίει ἐκ τῆς ποίμνης τοῦ γάλακτος Tis pote strateuetai idiois opsōniois tis phyteuei ampelōna kai ouk esthiei autou ton karpon ē tis poimainei poimnēn kai ouk esthiei ek tēs poimnēs tou galaktos — NA/TR · 7
8
vvv Do I say this from a human perspective…? - Doesn’t [the] Law say the same thing?
Μὴ λαλῶ ταῦτα κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ἢ ὁ οὐ νόμος καὶ λέγει ταῦτα Mē lalō tauta kata anthrōpon ē ho ou nomos kai legei tauta — NA/TR · 8
9
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “vvv Do not muzzle an ox [while it is] treading out the grain.” [Is it] about oxen [that] God is concerned?
γὰρ γέγραπται ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως Οὐ κημώσεις βοῦν ἀλοῶντα μὴ τῶν βοῶν τῷ Θεῷ μέλει gar gegraptai en tō nomō Mōuseōs Ou kēmōseis boun aloōnta mē tōn boōn tō Theō melei — NA/TR · 9
10
Isn’t He actually speaking… on our behalf…? Indeed, this was written for us, because [when] the plowman plows - and the thresher [ threshes ], [they] should vvv [also] expect to share in the harvest.
ἢ λέγει πάντως δι’ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη δι’ ἡμᾶς ὅτι ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν ὀφείλει ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν ē legei pantōs di’ hēmas gar egraphē di’ hēmas hoti ho arotriōn arotrian ep’ elpidi kai ho aloōn opheilei ep’ elpidi tou metechein — NA/TR · 10
11
If we have sown spiritual [seed] among you, [is it] too much vvv for us to reap a material [harvest] from you?
Εἰ ἡμεῖς ἐσπείραμεν τὰ πνευματικὰ ὑμῖν μέγα εἰ ἡμεῖς θερίσομεν τὰ σαρκικὰ ὑμῶν Ei hēmeis espeiramen ta pneumatika hymin mega ei hēmeis therisomen ta sarkika hymōn — NA/TR · 11
12
If others have [this] right to your [support], shouldn’t we [have it] all the more? But vvv we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than… hinder… the gospel of Christ.
εἰ ἄλλοι μετέχουσιν τῆς ἐξουσίας ὑμῶν οὐ ἡμεῖς μᾶλλον ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα ταύτῃ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ἀλλὰ στέγομεν πάντα ἵνα μή δῶμεν τινα ἐνκοπὴν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ei alloi metechousin tēs exousias hymōn ou hēmeis mallon all’ ouk echrēsametha tautē tē exousia alla stegomen panta hina mē dōmen tina enkopēn tō euangeliō tou Christou — NA/TR · 12
13
vvv Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of [its food]…, [and] those who serve at the altar partake of [its] [offerings]?
Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὰ ἱερὰ ἐσθίουσιν τὰ ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ οἱ παρεδρεύοντες τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ συμμερίζονται τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ Ouk oidate hoti hoi ergazomenoi ta hiera esthiousin ta ek tou hierou hoi paredreuontes tō thysiastēriō symmerizontai tō thysiastēriō — NA/TR · 13
14
In the same way…, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
οὕτως καὶ ὁ Κύριος διέταξεν τοῖς καταγγέλλουσιν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ζῆν ἐκ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου houtōs kai ho Kyrios dietaxen tois katangellousin to euangelion zēn ek tou euangeliou — NA/TR · 14
15
But I vvv have not used [any] of these [rights]. And vvv I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather… die than {let} anyone nullify my boast.
δὲ ἐγὼ οὐ κέχρημαι οὐδενὶ τούτων δὲ οὐκ ἔγραψα ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί γάρ μοι μᾶλλον καλὸν ἀποθανεῖν ἢ οὐδεὶς κενώσει μου τὸ καύχημά de egō ou kechrēmai oudeni toutōn de ouk egrapsa tauta hina houtōs genētai en emoi gar moi mallon kalon apothanein ē oudeis kenōsei mou to kauchēma — NA/TR · 15
16
Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated [to preach]… Woe to me if vvv I do not preach the gospel!
γὰρ Ἐὰν εὐαγγελίζωμαι μοι ἔστιν οὐκ καύχημα γάρ μοι ἀνάγκη ἐπίκειται γάρ οὐαὶ ἐστιν μοί ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίσωμαι gar Ean euangelizōmai moi estin ouk kauchēma gar moi anankē epikeitai gar ouai estin moi ean mē euangelisōmai — NA/TR · 16
17
- If my [preaching] [is] voluntary, I have a reward. But if [it is] not voluntary, I am [still] entrusted with [a] responsibility.
γὰρ εἰ πράσσω τοῦτο ἑκὼν ἔχω μισθὸν δὲ εἰ ἄκων πεπίστευμαι οἰκονομίαν gar ei prassō touto hekōn echō misthon de ei akōn pepisteumai oikonomian — NA/TR · 17
18
What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer [it] free of charge, and so not use up my rights in [preaching] [it].
τίς οὖν ἐστιν μού ὁ μισθός ἵνα εὐαγγελιζόμενος θήσω τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀδάπανον εἰς μὴ τὸ καταχρήσασθαι μου τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ tis oun estin mou ho misthos hina euangelizomenos thēsō to euangelion adapanon eis mē to katachrēsasthai mou tē exousia en tō euangeliō — NA/TR · 18
Paul the Servant to All
19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave… to everyone, to win as many as possible.
γὰρ ὢν Ἐλεύθερος ἐκ πάντων ἐδούλωσα ἐμαυτὸν πᾶσιν ἵνα κερδήσω τοὺς πλείονας gar ōn Eleutheros ek pantōn edoulōsa emauton pasin hina kerdēsō tous pleionas — NA/TR · 19
20
- To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win [the] Jews. To those under [the] law [I became like one] under [the] law ([though I] myself am not under [the] law), to win those under [the] law.
καὶ τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ἐγενόμην ὡς Ἰουδαῖος ἵνα κερδήσω Ἰουδαίους τοῖς ὑπὸ νόμον ὡς ὑπὸ νόμον αὐτὸς ὢν μὴ ὑπὸ νόμον ἵνα κερδήσω τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον kai tois Ioudaiois egenomēn hōs Ioudaios hina kerdēsō Ioudaious tois hypo nomon hōs hypo nomon autos ōn mē hypo nomon hina kerdēsō tous hypo nomon — NA/TR · 20
21
To those without [the] law [I became like one] without [the] law ([though I] am not outside [the] law of God but [am] under [the] law of Christ), to win those without [the] law.
τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος ὢν μὴ ἄνομος Θεοῦ ἀλλ’ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ ἵνα κερδάνω τοὺς ἀνόμους tois anomois hōs anomos ōn mē anomos Theou all’ ennomos Christou hina kerdanō tous anomous — NA/TR · 21
22
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all [people] so that by all possible means I might save some.
τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ἐγενόμην ἀσθενής ἵνα κερδήσω τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς γέγονα πάντα τοῖς πᾶσιν ἵνα πάντως σώσω τινὰς tois asthenesin egenomēn asthenēs hina kerdēsō tous astheneis gegona panta tois pasin hina pantōs sōsō tinas — NA/TR · 22
23
- I do all [this] for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share… in its [blessings].
δὲ ποιῶ Πάντα διὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἵνα γένωμαι συνκοινωνὸς αὐτοῦ de poiō Panta dia to euangelion hina genōmai synkoinōnos autou — NA/TR · 23
Run Your Race to Win
24
vvv Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take [the prize].
Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἐν σταδίῳ μὲν πάντες οἱ τρέχοντες τρέχουσιν δὲ εἷς λαμβάνει τὸ βραβεῖον τρέχετε οὕτως ἵνα καταλάβητε Ouk oidate hoti en stadiō men pantes hoi trechontes trechousin de heis lambanei to brabeion trechete houtōs hina katalabēte — NA/TR · 24
25
- Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline… - They [do it] vvv [for] a crown [that is] perishable, but we [ do it for a crown ] [that is] imperishable.
δὲ πᾶς ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος ἐγκρατεύεται πάντα οὖν μὲν ἐκεῖνοι ἵνα λάβωσιν στέφανον φθαρτὸν δὲ ἡμεῖς ἄφθαρτον de pas ho agōnizomenos enkrateuetai panta oun men ekeinoi hina labōsin stephanon phtharton de hēmeis aphtharton — NA/TR · 25
26
Therefore I do not run… vvv vvv aimlessly; I do not fight… like… I am beating [the] air.
τοίνυν ἐγὼ τρέχω οὐκ οὕτως ὡς ἀδήλως πυκτεύω οὐκ οὕτως ὡς δέρων ἀέρα toinyn egō trechō ouk houtōs hōs adēlōs pykteuō ouk houtōs hōs derōn aera — NA/TR · 26
27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, [so that] after I have preached to others, I myself vvv vvv will not be disqualified.
ἀλλὰ ὑπωπιάζω μου τὸ σῶμα καὶ δουλαγωγῶ κηρύξας ἄλλοις αὐτὸς μή πως γένωμαι ἀδόκιμος alla hypōpiazō mou to sōma kai doulagōgō kēryxas allois autos mē pōs genōmai adokimos — NA/TR · 27