1 Corinthians 9:18–27

18 What is my reward then? That zwhen I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel 4of Christ without charge, that I amay not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Serving All Men

19 For though I am bfree from all men, cI have made myself a servant to all, dthat I might win the more; 20 and eto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the 5law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 fto gthose who are without law, as without law h(not being without 6law toward God, but under 7law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 ito the weak I became 8as weak, that I might win the weak. jI have become all things to all men, kthat 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? lRun in such a way that you may 9obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize 1is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for man imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: nnot with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 oBut I discipline my body and pbring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become qdisqualified.