|
14 So also, the Lord directed those proclaiming the gospel to live from the gospel. 15 But I have not used any of these. And neither did I write these things so that it should be thus with me; for it is good for me rather to die than that anyone will make void my boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, there is no boasting to me, for necessity is laid upon me. But woe be to me if I should not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That preaching the gospel, I should lay down the gospel free of charge, so as not to use up my authority in the gospel. 19 For being free from all, I myself became a slave to all, so that I might gain the more. 20 And I became to the Jews as a Jew, so that I might gain the Jews; to those under the law, as under the law (myself not being under the law), so that I might gain those under the law; 21 to those without the law, as without the law (not being without the law of God, but within the law of Christ), so that I might gain those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all, so that by all means I might save some. 23 Now I do all because of the gospel, so that I might become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you⁺ not know that those running in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run thus, so that you⁺ might obtain it. 25 Now everyone striving controls himself in all things; these indeed then so that they might receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run thus, not as aimlessly; I fight thus, not as beating the air. 27 But I batter my body and bring it into servitude, lest somehow, having preached to others, I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:14-27, Berean Literal Bible. Public domain.
|
