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11 (A)If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this authority over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we (B)did not use this authority, but we endure all things (C)so that we will cause no hindrance to the (D)gospel of Christ. 13 (E)Do you not know that those who (F)perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share [a]from the altar? 14 So also (G)the Lord directed those who proclaim the (H)gospel to (I)get their living from the gospel.

15 But I have (J)used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case, for it would be better for me to die than have anyone make (K)my boast an empty one. 16 For if I proclaim the gospel, I have nothing to boast, for (L)I am under compulsion. For woe is me if I do not proclaim (M)the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a (N)reward; but if against my will, I have a (O)stewardship entrusted to me. 18 What then is my (P)reward? That, when I proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel (Q)without charge, so as (R)not to make full use of my authority in the gospel.

19 For though I am (S)free from all, I have made myself (T)a slave to all, so that I may (U)win more. 20 (V)And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews. To those who are under [b]the Law, as under [c]the Law though (W)not being myself under [d]the Law, so that I might win those who are under [e]the Law. 21 To those who are (X)without law, (Y)as without law, though not being without the law of God but (Z)under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the (AA)weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become (AB)all things to all men, (AC)so that I may by all means save some. 23 So I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

24 (AD)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives (AE)the prize? (AF)Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Now everyone who (AG)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible (AH)crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 Therefore I (AI)run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not (AJ)beating the air; 27 but I [f]discipline (AK)my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

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So I regarded it necessary to encourage the (A)brothers that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised (B)blessing, so that the same would be ready as a (C)blessing and not as a [a](D)begrudging obligation.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit covetousness