使徒的权利
我不是自由的吗？我不是使徒吗？我不是见过我们的主耶稣吗？你们不是我在主里面工作的成果吗？
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?
2假若对别人来说，我不是使徒，对你们来说，我总是使徒；因为你们在主里正是我作使徒的印证。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.
3对那些质问我的人，这就是我的答辩。Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4难道我们没有权利靠着传福音吃喝吗？Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5难道我们没有权利带着信主的妻子一起出入，如同其余的使徒，和主的兄弟们，和矶法一样吗？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?
6只有我和巴拿巴没有权利不做工吗？Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7有谁当兵而自备粮饷呢？有谁栽葡萄园而不吃园里的果子呢？有谁牧养牛羊而不喝牛羊的奶呢？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?
8我说这些话岂是照一般人的看法？律法不也是这样说吗？Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9就如摩西的律法记着：“牛在踹谷的时候，不可笼住它的嘴。”难道神所挂念的是牛吗？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?
10他不全是为我们说的吗？的确是为我们说的！因为耕种的要存着指望去耕种；收割的也要存着分享谷物的指望去收割。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.
11我们既然把属灵的种子撒在你们中间，若从你们收取养生之物，这还算大事吗？If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12假如别人在你们身上享有这权利，何况我们呢？然而，我们并没有用过这权利，倒是凡事忍受，免得基督的福音受到阻碍。
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.
13你们岂不知在圣殿供职的人吃圣殿中的食物吗？在祭坛伺候的人分享坛上的供物吗？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?
14主也是这样命令，要传福音的人靠着福音养生。Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15但这权利我全然没有用过。我写这些话，并非要你们这样待我，因为我宁可死也不让人使我所夸的落了空。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.
16我传福音原没有可夸耀的，因为我是不得已的，若不传福音，我就有祸了。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!
17我若甘心做这事，就有赏赐；若不甘心，责任却已经托付给我了。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.
18这样，我的赏赐是什么呢？就是我传福音的时候，使人不花钱得福音，免得我用尽了传福音的权利。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.
19我虽然是自由的，不受人管辖，但我甘心作了众人的仆人，为赢得更多的人。For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20对犹太人，我就作犹太人，为要赢得犹太人；对律法以下的人，我虽不在律法以下，还是作律法以下的人，为要赢得律法以下的人。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;
21对没有律法的人，我就作没有律法的人，为要赢得没有律法的人；其实我在神面前，不是没有律法，而是在基督的律法之下。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.
22对软弱的人，我就作软弱的人，为要赢得软弱的人。对什么样的人，我就作什么样的人。无论如何我总要救一些人。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.
23凡我所做的，都是为福音的缘故，为要与人共享这福音的好处。And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24你们不知道在运动场上赛跑的，大家都跑，但得奖赏的只有一人？你们也要这样跑，好使你们得着奖赏。Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25凡参加竞赛的，在各方面都要有节制，他们不过是要得会朽坏的冠冕；我们却是要得不会朽坏的冠冕。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.
26所以，我奔跑，不像无目标的；我斗拳，不像打空气的。I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27我克制己身，使它完全顺服，免得我传福音给别人，自己反而被淘汰了。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.