哥林多前書 第 9 章

¹我不是自由的麼？我不是使徒麼？我不是見過我們的主耶穌麼？你們不是我在主裡面所做之工麼？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假若在別人，我不是使徒，在你們，我總是使徒，因為你們在主裡正是我作使徒的印證。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我對那盤問我的人就是這樣分訴：Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

⁴難道我們沒有權柄靠福音吃喝麼？Have we not power to eat and to drink?

⁵難道我們沒有權柄娶信主的姊妹為妻，帶著一同往來，彷彿其餘的使徒和主的弟兄並磯法一樣麼？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獨有我與巴拿巴沒有權柄不做工麼？Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

⁷有誰當兵自備糧餉呢？有誰栽葡萄園不吃園裡的果子呢？有誰牧養牛羊不吃牛羊的奶呢？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我說這話，豈是照人的意見；律法不也是這樣說麼？Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

⁹就如摩西的律法記著說：牛在場上踹穀的時候，不可籠住他的嘴。難道神所掛念的是牛麼？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不全是為我們說的麼？分明是為我們說的。因為耕種的當存著指望去耕種；打場的也當存得糧的指望去打場。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我們若把屬靈的種子撒在你們中間，就是從你們收割奉養肉身之物這還算大事麼？If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

¹²若別人在你們身上有這權柄，何況我們呢？然而，我們沒有用過這權柄，倒凡事忍受，免得基督的福音被阻隔。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你們豈不知為聖事勞碌的就吃殿中的物麼？伺候祭壇的就分領壇上的物麼？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主也是這樣命定，叫傳福音的靠著福音養生。Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

¹⁵但這權柄我全沒有用過。我寫這話，並非要你們這樣待我，因為我寧可死也不叫人使我所誇的落了空。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我傳福音原沒有可誇的，因為我是不得已的。若不傳福音，我便有禍了。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我若甘心做這事，就有賞賜；若不甘心，責任卻已經託付我了。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既是這樣，我的賞賜是甚麼呢？就是我傳福音的時候叫人不花錢得福音，免得用盡我傳福音的權柄。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我雖是自由的，無人轄管；然而我甘心作了眾人的僕人，為要多得人。For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

²⁰向猶太人，我就作猶太人，為要得猶太人；向律法以下的人，我雖不在律法以下，還是作律法以下的人，為要得律法以下的人。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向沒有律法的人，我就作沒有律法的人，為要得沒有律法的人；其實我在神面前，不是沒有律法；在基督面前，正在律法之下。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向軟弱的人，我就作軟弱的人，為要得軟弱的人。向甚麼樣的人，我就作甚麼樣的人。無論如何，總要救些人。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凡我所行的，都是為福音的緣故，為要與人同得這福音的好處。And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

²⁴豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑，但得獎賞的只有一人？你們也當這樣跑，好叫你們得著獎賞。Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

²⁵凡較力爭勝的，諸事都有節制，他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕；我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。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，我奔跑不像無定向的；我鬥拳不像打空氣的。I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

²⁷我是攻克己身，叫身服我，恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。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.