10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that ahe who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11aIf we have sown spiritual things for you, isit a great thing if we reap your material things?
12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? aNevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things blest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
13aDo you not know that those who minister the holy things eat ofthethings of the btemple, and those who serve at the altar partake of theofferingsof the altar?
14 Even so athe Lord has commanded bthat those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But aI have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for bit wouldbe better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for anecessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
17 For if I do this willingly, aI have a reward; but if against my will, bI have been entrusted with a stewardship.
18 What is my reward then? That awhen I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel1 of Christ without charge, that I bmay not abuse my authority in the gospel.
Serving All Men
19 For though I am afree from all men,bI have made myself a servant to all, cthat I might win the more;
20 and ato the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those whoare under the law, as under the1 law, that I might win those whoare under the law;
21ato bthose whoare without law, as without law c(not being without law toward God, but under2 law toward Christ), that I might win those whoare without law;
22ato the weak I became1 as weak, that I might win the weak. bI have become all things to all men,cthat I might by all means save some.
23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Striving for a Crown
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? aRun in such a way that you may1 obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes fortheprize1 is temperate in all things. Now they doit to obtain a perishable crown, but we foraan imperishable crown.
Over you (umwn). Objective genitive after ecousian.
Do not we yet more? (ou mallon hmeis). Because of Paul's peculiar relation to that church as founder and apostle.
But we bear all things (alla panta stegomen). Old verb to cover (stegh, roof) and so to cover up, to conceal, to endure (I Corinthians 13:7 of love). Paul deliberately declined to use (usual instrumental case with xraomai) his right to pay in Corinth.
That we may cause no hindrance (ina mh tina enkophn dwmen). Late word enkoph, a cutting in (cf. radio or telephone) or hindrance from enkoptw, to cut in, rare word (like ekkoph) here only in N.T. and once in Vettius Valens. How considerate Paul is to avoid "a hindrance to the gospel of Christ" (tw euaggeliw tou Xristou, dative case and genitive) rather than insist on his personal rights and liberties, an eloquent example for all modern men.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Corinthians 9:12:
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