1 Corinthians 9:19–10:13

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.

Old Testament Examples

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under athe cloud, all passed through bthe sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same cspiritual food, 4 and all drank the same dspiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies ewere scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as fthey also lusted. 7 gAnd do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, h“The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 iNor let us commit sexual immorality, as jsome of them did, and kin one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us 1tempt Christ, as lsome of them also tempted, and mwere destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as nsome of them also complained, and owere destroyed by pthe destroyer. 11 Now 2all these things happened to them as examples, and qthey were written for our 3admonition, rupon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12 Therefore slet him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but tGod is faithful, uwho will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to 4bear it.