15 But I have (A)used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make (B)my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for (C)I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach (D)the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a (E)reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a (F)commission nonetheless. 18 What, then, is my (G)reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel (H)without charge, so as (I)not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

19 For though I am (J)free from all people, I have made myself (K)a slave to all, so that I may (L)gain more. 20 (M)To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though (N)not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are (O)without the Law, I became (P)as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but (Q)under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the (R)weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become (S)all things to all people, (T)so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

24 (U)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives (V)the prize? (W)Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who (X)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable (Y)wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I (Z)run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as [a]to avoid (AA)hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline (AB)my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Lit not hitting

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(A) 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.(B) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(C) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(D) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(E) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(F) and so not make full use of my rights(G) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(H) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(I) to win as many as possible.(J) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(K) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(L) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(M) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(N) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(O) I have become all things to all people(P) so that by all possible means I might save some.(Q) 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?(R) Run(S) 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(T) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(U) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(V) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(W) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(X) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(Y)

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