1 Corinthians 9:14-27
Contemporary English Version
14 (A) In the same way, the Lord wants everyone who preaches the good news to make a living from preaching this message.
15 But I have never used these privileges of mine, and I am not writing this because I want to start now. I would rather die than have someone rob me of the right to take pride in this. 16 I don't have any reason to brag about preaching the good news. Preaching is something God told me to do, and if I don't do it, I am doomed. 17 If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don't want to, it is still something God has sent me to do. 18 What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher.
19 I am not anyone's slave. But I have become a slave to everyone, so I can win as many people as possible. 20 When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. They are ruled by the Law of Moses, and I am not. But I live by the Law to win them. 21 And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ. 22 When I am with people whose faith is weak, I live as they do to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can. 23 I do all this for the good news, because I want to share in its blessings.
A Race and a Fight
24 (B) You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! 25 (C) Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever. 26 I don't run without a goal. And I don't box by beating my fists in the air. 27 I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.
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1 Corinthians 9:14-27
New International Version
14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(A)
15 But I have not used any of these rights.(B) 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.(C) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(D) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(E) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(F) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(G) and so not make full use of my rights(H) as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free(I) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(J) to win as many as possible.(K) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(L) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(M) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(N) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(O) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(P) I have become all things to all people(Q) so that by all possible means I might save some.(R) 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?(S) Run(T) 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(U) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(V) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(W) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(X) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(Y) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(Z)
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