1 I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" free|strong="G1658" man|strong="G1658". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" apostle|strong="G0652". I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1510" seen|strong="G3708" Jesus|strong="G2424" our|strong="G2424" Lord|strong="G2962". You|strong="G5210" people|strong="G1510" are|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" example of|strong="G2041" my|strong="G3708" work|strong="G2041" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".
2 Others|strong="G0243" may|strong="G1473" not|strong="G3756" accept me|strong="G1473" as|strong="G1722" an|strong="G1510" apostle|strong="G0652", but|strong="G0235" surely you|strong="G5210" do|strong="G1510". You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" proof that|strong="G1510" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" apostle|strong="G0652" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".
3 Some|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510" want to|strong="G3778" judge|strong="G0350" me|strong="G1473". So|strong="G3778" this|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" answer I|strong="G1473" give them|strong="G3778":
4 We|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2192" the|strong="G2532" right|strong="G1849" to|strong="G2532" eat|strong="G2068" and|strong="G2532" drink|strong="G4095", don’t|strong="G3756" we|strong="G2532"?
5 We|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2192" the|strong="G3588" right|strong="G1849" to|strong="G2532" bring a|strong="G2192" believing|strong="G0080" wife|strong="G1135" with|strong="G2532" us when|strong="G5613" we|strong="G2532" travel|strong="G4013", don’t|strong="G3756" we|strong="G2532"? The|strong="G3588" other|strong="G3062" apostles|strong="G0652" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Lord’s|strong="G2962" brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G2532" Peter all|strong="G3588" do|strong="G2192" this|strong="G3588".
6 And|strong="G2532" are|strong="G2532" Barnabas|strong="G0921" and|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" the|strong="G2532" only|strong="G3441" ones who|strong="G2532" must work|strong="G2038" to|strong="G2532" earn our|strong="G2532" living|strong="G2192"?
7 No|strong="G3756" soldier|strong="G4754" ever|strong="G4218" serves|strong="G4754" in|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" army and|strong="G2532" pays his|strong="G0846" own|strong="G2398" salary. No|strong="G3756" one|strong="G3588" ever|strong="G4218" plants|strong="G5452" a|strong="G2228" vineyard|strong="G0290" without|strong="G3756" eating|strong="G2068" some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" grapes himself|strong="G0846". No|strong="G3756" one|strong="G3588" takes care of|strong="G1537" a|strong="G2228" flock|strong="G4167" of|strong="G1537" sheep|strong="G4165" without|strong="G3756" drinking some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" milk|strong="G1051" himself|strong="G0846".
8 These|strong="G3778" aren’t|strong="G3756" just|strong="G2532" my|strong="G2596" own thoughts. God’s law|strong="G3551" says|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3778" thing|strong="G3778".
9 Yes|strong="G1063", it|strong="G3551" is|strong="G2316" written|strong="G1125" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G2316" Moses|strong="G3475": “When|strong="G1722" a|strong="G1125" work animal is|strong="G2316" being used to|strong="G1722" separate grain, don’t|strong="G3756" keep|strong="G3361" it|strong="G3551" from|strong="G3361" eating the|strong="G3588" grain.” When|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316" said this|strong="G3588", was|strong="G3588" he|strong="G1722" thinking only|strong="G3756" about|strong="G1722" work animals? No|strong="G3756".
10 He|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" really talking|strong="G3004" about|strong="G1909" us|strong="G3004". Yes|strong="G1063", that|strong="G3754" was|strong="G3588" written|strong="G1125" for|strong="G1063" us|strong="G3004". The|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" plows and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" separates the|strong="G3588" grain should|strong="G3784" both|strong="G2532" expect to|strong="G3004" get some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" grain for|strong="G1063" their|strong="G2532" work.
11 We|strong="G2249" planted spiritual|strong="G4152" seed among you|strong="G5210", so|strong="G3173" we|strong="G2249" should be able to|strong="G1487" harvest from|strong="G3588" you|strong="G5210" some|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3173" for this|strong="G3588" life. Surely that|strong="G1487" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G1473" asking too|strong="G3173" much|strong="G3173".
12 Others|strong="G0243" have|strong="G1473" this|strong="G3778" right|strong="G1849" to|strong="G2443" get things|strong="G3778" from|strong="G3361" you|strong="G5210". So|strong="G2443" surely|strong="G3361" we|strong="G2249" have|strong="G1473" this|strong="G3778" right|strong="G1849" too. But|strong="G0235" we|strong="G2249" don’t|strong="G3756" use|strong="G5530" this|strong="G3778" right|strong="G1849". No|strong="G3756", we|strong="G2249" endure|strong="G4722" everything|strong="G3956" ourselves|strong="G2249" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" we|strong="G2249" will|strong="G3778" not|strong="G3756" stop|strong="G3361" anyone|strong="G5100" from|strong="G3361" obeying the|strong="G3956" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098" of|strong="G2098" Christ|strong="G5547".
13 Surely you|strong="G3754" know|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3754" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" work|strong="G2038" at|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G2413" get their|strong="G2068" food from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G2413". And|strong="G2068" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" serve at|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" altar|strong="G2379" get part of|strong="G1537" what|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" offered at|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" altar|strong="G2379".
14 It|strong="G3779" is|strong="G2962" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" with|strong="G1537" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" have|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" work of|strong="G1537" telling the|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098". The|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" has|strong="G2962" commanded|strong="G1299" that|strong="G3779" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" tell the|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098" should|strong="G2198" get|strong="G2198" their|strong="G2532" living|strong="G2198" from|strong="G1537" this|strong="G3779" work.
15 But|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1473" not|strong="G3756" used|strong="G5530" any|strong="G3762" of|strong="G1722" these|strong="G3778" rights, and|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1096" not|strong="G3756" trying to|strong="G2443" get|strong="G1096" anything|strong="G3762" from|strong="G2228" you|strong="G1722". That|strong="G2443" is|strong="G3778" not|strong="G3756" my|strong="G1722" purpose for|strong="G1063" writing|strong="G1125" this|strong="G3778". I|strong="G1473" would|strong="G1096" rather|strong="G3123" die|strong="G0599" than|strong="G2228" to|strong="G2443" have|strong="G1473" someone take|strong="G1096" away what|strong="G3588" for|strong="G1063" me|strong="G1473" is|strong="G3778" a|strong="G1096" great|strong="G3756" source of|strong="G1722" pride|strong="G2745".
16 It’s not|strong="G3756" my work of|strong="G2097" telling the|strong="G2097" Good|strong="G2097" News|strong="G2097" that|strong="G1437" gives me|strong="G1473" any|strong="G3756" reason|strong="G2745" to|strong="G3759" boast|strong="G2745". That|strong="G1437" is|strong="G1510" my duty—something|strong="G2745" I|strong="G1473" must|strong="G1510" do|strong="G1510". If|strong="G1437" I|strong="G1473" don’t|strong="G3756" tell people|strong="G1510" the|strong="G2097" Good|strong="G2097" News|strong="G2097", I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1473" real trouble.
17 If|strong="G1487" I|strong="G3778" did|strong="G2192" it|strong="G1161" because|strong="G1063" it|strong="G1161" was|strong="G2192" my|strong="G4100" own choice, I|strong="G3778" would|strong="G4100" deserve to|strong="G3778" be|strong="G2192" paid. But|strong="G1161" I|strong="G3778" have|strong="G2192" no|strong="G1487" choice. I|strong="G3778" must tell the|strong="G2192" Good News. So|strong="G1161" I|strong="G3778" am|strong="G2192" only|strong="G1487" doing|strong="G4238" the|strong="G2192" duty that|strong="G4100" was|strong="G2192" given to|strong="G3778" me|strong="G2192".
18 So|strong="G2443" what|strong="G5101" do|strong="G1510" I|strong="G1473" get for|strong="G1519" doing it|strong="G5087"? My|strong="G5087" reward|strong="G3408" is|strong="G1510" that|strong="G2443" when|strong="G1722" I|strong="G1473" tell people|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G2097" News|strong="G2097" I|strong="G1473" can offer|strong="G5087" it|strong="G5087" to|strong="G1519" them|strong="G1722" for|strong="G1519" free and|strong="G1849" not|strong="G3361" use|strong="G2710" the|strong="G3588" rights|strong="G1849" that|strong="G2443" come|strong="G1510" with|strong="G1722" doing this|strong="G3588" work.
19 I|strong="G1510" am|strong="G1510" free|strong="G1658". I|strong="G1510" belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2443" no other person, but|strong="G1063" I|strong="G1510" make myself|strong="G1683" a|strong="G1510" slave|strong="G1402" to|strong="G2443" everyone|strong="G3956". I|strong="G1510" do|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2443" help save as|strong="G3956" many|strong="G4183" people|strong="G3956" as|strong="G3956" I|strong="G1510" can.
20 To|strong="G2443" the|strong="G3588" Jews|strong="G2453" I|strong="G2532" became|strong="G1096" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" Jew|strong="G2453" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" I|strong="G2532" could|strong="G1096" help save Jews|strong="G2453". I|strong="G2532" myself|strong="G0846" am|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" ruled by|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551", but|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2443" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" ruled by|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" I|strong="G2532" became|strong="G1096" like|strong="G5613" someone who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" ruled by|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551". I|strong="G2532" did|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2443" help save those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" ruled by|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551".
21 To|strong="G2443" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" without|strong="G3361" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G0459" I|strong="G5613" became like|strong="G5613" someone who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" without|strong="G3361" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G0459". I|strong="G5613" did|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2443" help save those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" without|strong="G3361" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G0459". (But|strong="G0235" really, I|strong="G5613" am|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" without|strong="G3361" God’s|strong="G2316" law|strong="G0459"—I|strong="G5613" am|strong="G1510" ruled by|strong="G5613" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G0459" of|strong="G2316" Christ|strong="G5547".)
22 To|strong="G2443" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3956" weak|strong="G0772", I|strong="G3956" became|strong="G1096" weak|strong="G0772" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" I|strong="G3956" could|strong="G1096" help save|strong="G4982" them|strong="G2443". I|strong="G3956" have|strong="G3956" become|strong="G1096" all|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956" to|strong="G2443" all|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956". I|strong="G3956" did|strong="G1096" this|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" I|strong="G3956" could|strong="G1096" save|strong="G4982" people|strong="G3956" in|strong="G3956" any|strong="G5100" way|strong="G3956" possible.
23 I|strong="G1161" do|strong="G4160" all|strong="G3956" this|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2443" make|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3956" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098" known. I|strong="G1161" do|strong="G4160" it|strong="G0846" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" I|strong="G1161" can|strong="G4160" share in|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" blessings of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3956" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098".
24 You|strong="G3754" know|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3754" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G2983" race|strong="G4712" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" runners run|strong="G5143", but|strong="G1161" only|strong="G3756" one|strong="G1520" runner gets|strong="G2983" the|strong="G3956" prize|strong="G1017". So|strong="G2443" run|strong="G5143" like|strong="G3779" that|strong="G3754". Run|strong="G5143" to|strong="G2443" win|strong="G2638"!
25 All|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" compete|strong="G0075" in|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" games|strong="G0075" use strict training. They|strong="G3767" do|strong="G2983" this|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" they|strong="G3767" can win a|strong="G2983" prize—one|strong="G3588" that|strong="G2443" doesn’t last. But|strong="G1161" our|strong="G3956" prize is|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" that|strong="G2443" will|strong="G3956" last forever.
26 So|strong="G3779" I|strong="G1473" run|strong="G5143" like|strong="G5613" someone who|strong="G3756" has|strong="G3779" a|strong="G5613" goal. I|strong="G1473" fight like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" boxer who|strong="G3756" is|strong="G3779" hitting something, not|strong="G3756" just|strong="G5613" the|strong="G5613" air|strong="G0109".
27 It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G3588" my|strong="G1096" own|strong="G0846" body|strong="G4983" I|strong="G1473" fight to|strong="G2532" make|strong="G1396" it|strong="G0846" do|strong="G1096" what|strong="G3588" I|strong="G1473" want. I|strong="G1473" do|strong="G1096" this|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G1096" I|strong="G1473" won’t|strong="G3361" miss getting the|strong="G3588" prize myself|strong="G0846" after|strong="G2532" telling others|strong="G0243" about|strong="G3588" it|strong="G0846".