Am I not free? am I not an Apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are you not my work in the Lord?
2
If to others I am not an Apostle, at least I am one to you: for the fact that you are Christians is the sign that I am an Apostle.
3
My answer to those who are judging me is this.
4
Have we no right to take food and drink?
1 Corinthians 9:1 — Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 9:1 say?
1 Corinthians 9:1 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Am I not free? am I not an Apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are you not my work in the Lord?”
Where is 1 Corinthians 9:1 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 9:1 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 1.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 9:1.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 9:1 in?
1 Corinthians 9:1 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 9:1?
1 Corinthians 9:1 reads (BBE): “Am I not free? am I not an Apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are you not my work in the Lord?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.