1 Corinthians 9:24–10:13

The Need for Self-Discipline

²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?^k Run^l in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown^m that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.^{n 26}Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;^o I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.^{p 27}No, I strike a blow to my body^q and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.^r

Warnings From Israel’s History

10For I do not want you to be ignorant^s of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud^t and that they all passed through the sea.^{u 2}They were all baptized into^v Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³They all ate the same spiritual food^{w 4}and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock^x that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.^y

⁶Now these things occurred as examples^z to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷Do not be idolaters,^a as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”^{ab 8}We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.^{c 9}We should not test Christ,^bd as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.^{e 10}And do not grumble, as some of them did^f—and were killed^g by the destroying angel.^h

¹¹These things happened to them as examplesⁱ and were written down as warnings for us,^j on whom the culmination of the ages has come.^{k 12}So, if you think you are standing firm,^l be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³No temptation^c has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;^m he will not let you be tempted^d beyond what you can bear.ⁿ But when you are tempted,^e he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.