1 Corinthians 9:16-27

New King James Version

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for ^(A)necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, ^(B)I have a reward; but if against my will, ^(C)I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? That ^(D)when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel ^[a]of Christ without charge, that I ^(E)may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

¹⁹ For though I am ^(F)free from all men, ^(G)I have made myself a servant to all, ^(H)that I might win the more; ²⁰ and ^(I)to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the ^[b]law, that I might win those who are under the law; ^21 (J)to ^(K)those who are without law, as without law ^(L)(not being without ^[c]law toward God, but under ^[d]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; ^22 (M)to the weak I became ^[e]as weak, that I might win the weak. ^(N)I have become all things to all men, ^(O)that I might by all means save some. ²³ Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ^(P)Run in such a way that you may ^[f]obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize ^[g]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for ^(Q)an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: ^(R)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ^27 (S)But I discipline my body and ^(T)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become ^(U)disqualified.