1 Corinthians 9:19–27

¹⁹Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win ^rmore 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 ^s—to win those under the law. ^t21To those who are without that law, ^ulike one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—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. ^v23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits. ^w

²⁴Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, ^xbut only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. ^y25Now everyone who competes exercises self-control ^zin everything. However, they do it to receive a crown ^athat will fade away, ^bbut we a crown that will never fade away. ²⁶Therefore 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. ^c