1 Corinthians 9:16-27

English Standard Version

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For ^(A)necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with ^(B)a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That in my preaching ^(C)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹ For ^(D)though I am free from all, ^(E)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might ^(F)win more of them. ^20 (G)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹ To ^(H)those outside the law I became ^(I)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but ^(J)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ^22 (K)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. ^(L)I have become all things to all people, that ^(M)by all means I might save some. ²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, ^(N)that I may share with them in its blessings.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives ^(O)the prize? So ^(P)run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every ^(Q)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we ^(R)an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I ^(S)do not box as one ^(T)beating the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and ^(U)keep it under control,^[a] lest after preaching to others ^(V)I myself should be ^(W)disqualified.