Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake?
Comment: If you remember the last time I was writing in 1 Corinthians Paul was talking about those of strong and weak faith. He was stressing that it is important to not do those things which destroy others faith. Obviously people didn’t like what he wrote or he imaged that when they got the letter they would speak against him and his writings. And he refers to earlier portions with his advice about marriage. I think, not boastingly, but definitely he claims his Apostleship and Freedom in Christ as the reason to be heard. And while about it, he claims his right as a soldier in God’s army to be as real a person as their other favourite teachers. He mentions marriageability, support and payment for work done. ‘Do I have to foot all my own expenses?’ he says! ‘Surely a harvester can nibble a few grapes or a shepherd drink a bit of the animal’s milk!’ He quotes Mosaic law to support his argument, a law which doesn’t refuse even an animal to enjoy some of the results of its work. He says that what applies to animals surely much more applies to mankind.
Prayer: You love a cheerful giver – may I be generous to Your workers and Your work, Father. You are so generous!
As I read it! 