³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^(A)

¹² We work hard with our own hands.^(A) When we are cursed, we bless;^(B) when we are persecuted,^(C) we endure it;

¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(A)

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights.^(B) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.^{(C) 16} For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.^(D) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;^(E) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.^{(F) 18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(G) and so not make full use of my rights^(H) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(I) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(J) to win as many as possible.^{(K) 20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(L) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(M) so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(N) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(O) so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(P) I have become all things to all people^(Q) so that by all possible means I might save some.^{(R) 23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?^(S) Run^(T) in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^(U) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{(V) 26} Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^(W) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{(X) 27} No, I strike a blow to my body^(Y) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^(Z)

⁷ Was it a sin^(A) for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God^(B) to you free of charge?^(C)

¹³ How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(A) Forgive me this wrong!^(B)

⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(A) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(B) while we preached the gospel of God to you.

¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(A) just as we told you,

⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(A) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.