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Am I not an apostle am I not free have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord are not ye my work in the Lord
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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
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Mine answer to them that do examine me is this
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Have we not power to eat and to drink
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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
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Or I only and Barnabas have not we power to forbear working
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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
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Say I these things as a man or saith not the law the same also
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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
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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
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If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things
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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
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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
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Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel
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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
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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
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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
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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
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For though I be free from all men yet have I made myself servant unto all that I might gain the more
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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
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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
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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
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And this I do for the ospel’s sake that I might be partaker thereof with you
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Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize So run that ye may obtain
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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
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I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the air
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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