1 He declareth, that from the liberty which the Lord gave him, 15 he willingly abstained, 18, 22 lest in things indifferent he should offend any. 24 He showeth that our life is like unto a race.

Am [a]I not an Apostle? am I not free? [b]have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my work [c]in the Lord?

If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am unto you: for ye are the [d]seal of mine Apostleship in the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:1 Before he proceedeth any further in his proposed manner of things offered to idols he would show the cause of all this mischief, and also take it away: to wit, that the Corinthians thought themselves not bound to depart from an iota of their liberty for any man’s pleasure. Therefore he propoundeth himself for an example and that in a matter almost necessary. And yet he speaketh generally of both, but first of his own person. If (saith he) you allege for yourselves that you are free, and therefore will use your liberty, am I not also free, seeing I am an Apostle?
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:1 He proveth his Apostleship by the effects, in that that he was appointed of Christ himself, and the authority of his function was sufficiently confirmed to him amongst them by their conversion. And all these things he setteth before their eyes, to make them ashamed for that they would not in the least wise that might be, debase themselves, for the weak’s sake, whereas the Apostle himself did all that he could to win them to God when they were utterly reprobate and without God.
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:1 By the Lord.
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:2 As a seal whereby it appeareth sufficiently that God is the author of my Apostleship.

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