1 Corinthians 9:15-27

English Standard Version

¹⁵ But ^(A)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 ^(B)deprive me of my ground for boasting. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For ^(C)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 ^(D)a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That in my preaching ^(E)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹ For ^(F)though I am free from all, ^(G)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might ^(H)win more of them. ^20 (I)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 ^(J)those outside the law I became ^(K)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but ^(L)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ^22 (M)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. ^(N)I have become all things to all people, that ^(O)by all means I might save some. ²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, ^(P)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 ^(Q)the prize? So ^(R)run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every ^(S)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we ^(T)an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I ^(U)do not box as one ^(V)beating the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and ^(W)keep it under control,^[a] lest after preaching to others ^(X)I myself should be ^(Y)disqualified.