1 Corinthians 9

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 9 of 16

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

2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet I am indeed to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those examining me is this:

4 Have we not authority to eat and to drink?

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Chapter Summary

1 He shows his liberty, 7 and that the minister ought to live by the gospel. 24 Our life is like a race.

Key Greek Words

ἐξουσία authority, right G1849
ἀπόστολος apostle G652
εὐαγγέλιον gospel G2098
ἐλεύθερος free G1658
βραβεῖον prize G1017
στέφανος crown G4736

People & Context

Paul

The apostle defending his apostolic rights and freedom while refusing pay for preaching the gospel

Cephas

An apostle cited as example, who leads about a believing wife as the other apostles do

Barnabas

Paul's fellow worker, named with him as one who likewise has the right to refrain from secular labor

Moses

Lawgiver whose Law ('You shall not muzzle an ox threshing grain') Paul quotes to support a worker's wages

Timeline

Paul's Apostolic Rights and Restraint

Paul defends his apostleship and his right to financial support, yet explains he voluntarily gives up these rights to prevent hindering the gospel, enslaving himself to all to win more people [32-35].

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

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Word-for-word literal translation with Greek interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

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