1 Corinthians 9:19–27

¹⁹Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win^ah more people. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law^E—to win those under the law.^{ai 21}To those who are without the law,^aj like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.^{a 23}Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

²⁴Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race,^b but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.^{c 25}Now everyone who competes exercises self-control^d in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown,^e but we an imperishable crown. ²⁶So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. ²⁷Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.^f