Paul’s Use of His Freedom

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

Warnings From Israel’s History

10 For I do not want you to be ignorant^(S) of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud^(T) and that they all passed through the sea.^{(U) 2} They were all baptized into^(V) Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food^{(W) 4} and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock^(X) that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.^(Y)

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples^(Z) to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters,^(AA) as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”^{[a](AB) 8} We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.^{(AC) 9} We should not test Christ,^[b](AD) as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.^{(AE) 10} And do not grumble, as some of them did^(AF)—and were killed^(AG) by the destroying angel.^(AH)

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples^(AI) and were written down as warnings for us,^(AJ) on whom the culmination of the ages has come.^{(AK) 12} So, if you think you are standing firm,^(AL) be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation^[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;^(AM) he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear.^(AN) But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.