5
Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
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Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
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What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn`t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn`t drink from the flock`s milk?
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Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn`t the law also say the same thing?
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For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn." Is it for the oxen that God cares,
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or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
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If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
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If others partake of this right over you, don`t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
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Don`t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
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Even so did the Lord ordain that those who proclaim the gospel should live from the gospel.
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But I have used none of these things, and I don`t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
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For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don`t preach the gospel.
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For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.