1Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus, our Lord? Y’all are my whole vibe in the Lord.

2If I’m not an apostle to others, no cap, I totally am to you: you’re my seal of rizz in the Lord.

3My answer to those who are checking me is this,

4Do we not have the power to eat and drink?

5Do we not have the power to bring a sister or a wife, just like other apostles and the bros of the Lord, including Cephas?

6Or is it just me and Barnabas who can chill and not work?

7Who goes to war and pays their own bill? Who plants a vineyard and doesn’t eat the fruit? Or who takes care of sheep and doesn’t drink the milk?

8Am I saying this as a regular dude? Or does the law say the same thing?

9It’s written in Moses’ law, “Don’t muzzle the ox while it’s grinding.” Does God care about oxen?

10Or is He saying this for us? For sure, it’s written for our sake: the one who plows should do it with hope, and the one who harvests should share in that hope.

11If we drop spiritual knowledge on you, is it sus if we want to get some of your earthly vibes back?

12If others flex this power over you, aren’t we more legit? But we ain't trippin; we keep it chill so we don’t mess with the gospel of Christ.

13Y’all know that those who handle holy stuff live off the temple goods? And those who chill by the altar are part of that vibe?

14For real, God said that those who preach the gospel should be living off that gospel grind.

15But I’m not using any of that; I didn’t write this to get anything back, 'cause I’d rather dip than let anyone mess with my hype.

16Even though I preach the gospel, I got no rizz to flex; it’s a must for me to do this, and fr, it’s a whole mood if I don’t!

17If I do this willingly, I get a reward; but if I’m not feeling it, I still gotta handle this gospel biz.

18So what’s my reward? For real, when I preach the gospel, I wanna do it for free, so I don’t misuse my gospel clout.

19Even though I’m free from everyone, I’ve made myself a servant to all, just to level up my game.

20To the Jews, I became like a Jew, so I could vibe with them; to those under the law, I rolled with the law, just to connect with them.

21To those who vibe without rules, I roll with it, not 'cause I'm lawless, but 'cause I'm all about that Christ law to save them.

22I get weak with the weak, trying to help them out; I'm all things to all peeps, just tryna save some, no cap.

23I'm doing this for the gospel's vibe, so we can all share in the good stuff together.

24Y'all know that in a race, everyone runs, but only one gets the prize? So run hard to win it.

25Every dude going for the win is serious about it. They chase a fading crown; we’re after the forever one.

26So I run with purpose, not just running in circles; I fight, not like I'm just swinging at nothing.

27I keep my body in check, making sure I don’t end up disqualified after preaching to others.

1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7Who 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?

8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9For 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?

10Or 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.

11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12If 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.

13Do 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?

14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15But 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.

16For 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!

17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18What 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.

19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20And 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;

21To 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.

22To 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.

23And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25And 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.

26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27But 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.