13 (A)Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the (B)temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so (C)the Lord has commanded (D)that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But (E)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for (F)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for (G)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (H)I have a reward; but if against my will, (I)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (J)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [a]of Christ without charge, that I (K)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I am (L)free from all men, (M)I have made myself a servant to all, (N)that I might win the more; 20 and (O)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [b]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 (P)to (Q)those who are without law, as without law (R)(not being without [c]law toward God, but under [d]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 (S)to the weak I became [e]as weak, that I might win the weak. (T)I have become all things to all men, (U)that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? (V)Run in such a way that you may [f]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [g]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for (W)an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: (X)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 (Y)But I discipline my body and (Z)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become (AA)disqualified.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:18 NU omits of Christ
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:20 NU adds though not being myself under the law
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU God’s law
  4. 1 Corinthians 9:21 NU Christ’s law
  5. 1 Corinthians 9:22 NU omits as
  6. 1 Corinthians 9:24 win
  7. 1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control

13 你 們 豈 不 知 為 聖 事 勞 碌 的 就 吃 殿 中 的 物 麼 ? 伺 候 祭 壇 的 就 分 領 壇 上 的 物 麼 ?

14 主 也 是 這 樣 命 定 , 叫 傳 福 音 的 靠 著 福 音 養 生 。

15 但 這 權 柄 我 全 沒 有 用 過 。 我 寫 這 話 , 並 非 要 你 們 這 樣 待 我 , 因 為 我 寧 可 死 也 不 叫 人 使 我 所 誇 的 落 了 空 。

16 我 傳 福 音 原 沒 有 可 誇 的 , 因 為 我 是 不 得 已 的 。 若 不 傳 福 音 , 我 便 有 禍 了 。

17 我 若 甘 心 做 這 事 , 就 有 賞 賜 ; 若 不 甘 心 , 責 任 卻 已 經 託 付 我 了 。

18 既 是 這 樣 , 我 的 賞 賜 是 甚 麼 呢 ? 就 是 我 傳 福 音 的 時 候 叫 人 不 花 錢 得 福 音 , 免 得 用 盡 我 傳 福 音 的 權 柄 。

19 我 雖 是 自 由 的 , 無 人 轄 管 ; 然 而 我 甘 心 作 了 眾 人 的 僕 人 , 為 要 多 得 人 。

20 向 猶 太 人 , 我 就 作 猶 太 人 , 為 要 得 猶 太 人 ; 向 律 法 以 下 的 人 , 我 雖 不 在 律 法 以 下 , 還 是 作 律 法 以 下 的 人 , 為 要 得 律 法 以 下 的 人 。

21 向 沒 有 律 法 的 人 , 我 就 作 沒 有 律 法 的 人 , 為 要 得 沒 有 律 法 的 人 ; 其 實 我 在 神 面 前 , 不 是 沒 有 律 法 ; 在 基 督 面 前 , 正 在 律 法 之 下 。

22 向 軟 弱 的 人 , 我 就 作 軟 弱 的 人 , 為 要 得 軟 弱 的 人 。 向 甚 麼 樣 的 人 , 我 就 作 甚 麼 樣 的 人 。 無 論 如 何 , 總 要 救 些 人 。

23 凡 我 所 行 的 , 都 是 為 福 音 的 緣 故 , 為 要 與 人 同 得 這 福 音 的 好 處 。

24 豈 不 知 在 場 上 賽 跑 的 都 跑 , 但 得 獎 賞 的 只 有 一 人 ? 你 們 也 當 這 樣 跑 , 好 叫 你 們 得 著 獎 賞 。

25 凡 較 力 爭 勝 的 , 諸 事 都 有 節 制 , 他 們 不 過 是 要 得 能 壞 的 冠 冕 ; 我 們 卻 是 要 得 不 能 壞 的 冠 冕 。

26 所 以 , 我 奔 跑 不 像 無 定 向 的 ; 我 鬥 拳 不 像 打 空 氣 的 。

27 我 是 攻 克 己 身 , 叫 身 服 我 , 恐 怕 我 傳 福 音 給 別 人 , 自 己 反 被 棄 絕 了 。

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13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(A) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(B)

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

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

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

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