16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for (A)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, (B)I have a reward; but if against my will, (C)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That (D)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel [a]of Christ without charge, that I (E)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I am (F)free from all men, (G)I have made myself a servant to all, (H)that I might win the more; 20 and (I)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 (J)to (K)those who are without law, as without law (L)(not being without [c]law toward God, but under [d]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 (M)to the weak I became [e]as weak, that I might win the weak. (N)I have become all things to all men, (O)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.

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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

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.

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