1 Corinthians 9:16-27

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁶ If I spread the Good News, I have nothing to brag about because I have an obligation to do this. How horrible it will be for me if I don’t spread the Good News! ¹⁷ If I spread the Good News willingly, I’ll have a reward. But if I spread the Good News unwillingly, I’m ⌞only⌟ doing what I’ve been entrusted to do.

¹⁸ So what is my reward? It is to spread the Good News free of charge. In that way I won’t use the rights that belong to those who spread the Good News.

Paul’s Work as an Apostle

¹⁹ Although I’m free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them. ²⁰ I became Jewish for Jewish people. I became subject to the laws in Moses’ Teachings for those who are subject to those laws. I did this to win them even though I’m not subject to Moses’ Teachings. ²¹ I became like a person who does not have Moses’ Teachings for those who don’t have those teachings. I did this to win them even though I have God’s teachings. I’m really subject to Christ’s teachings. ²² I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the Good News in order to share what it offers.

²⁴ Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. ²⁵ Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. ²⁶ So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing. ²⁷ Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.