1 Corinthians 9:13-27 ▼

13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings?

14 In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than--no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting!

16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.

18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.

21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.

23 I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.

24 Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.

25 Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air.

27 Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.