¹¹ And ^(A)he gave the ^(B)apostles, the prophets, the ^(C)evangelists, the ^(D)shepherds^[a] and teachers,^{[b] 12 (E)}to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for ^(F)building up ^(G)the body of Christ,

¹⁷ Let the elders ^(A)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, ^(C)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^(D)“The laborer deserves his wages.”

^7 (A)Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? ^(B)Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

⁸ Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses, ^(C)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? ¹⁰ Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written ^(D)for our sake, because ^(E)the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. ^11 (F)If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? ¹² If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, ^(G)we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything ^(H)rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Do you not know that ^(I)those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord commanded that ^(J)those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

¹⁵ But ^(K)I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone ^(L)deprive me of my ground for boasting.