11 (A)If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we (B)did not use this right, 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 have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make (K)my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for (L)I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach (M)the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a (N)reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a (O)commission nonetheless. 18 What, then, is my (P)reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel (Q)without charge, so as (R)not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

19 For though I am (S)free from all people, I have made myself (T)a slave to all, so that I may (U)gain more. 20 (V)To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though (W)not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are (X)without the Law, I became (Y)as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but (Z)under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the (AA)weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become (AB)all things to all people, (AC)so that I may by all means save some. 23 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 Everyone who (AG)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable (AH)wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I (AI)run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as [b]to avoid (AJ)hitting air; 27 but I strictly 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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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:13 Lit with
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Lit not hitting

11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(A) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(B) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(C) the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(D) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(E)

15 But I have not used any of these rights.(F) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(G) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(H) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(I) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(J) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(K) and so not make full use of my rights(L) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free(M) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(N) to win as many as possible.(O) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(P) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(Q) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(R) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(S) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(T) I have become all things to all people(U) so that by all possible means I might save some.(V) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(W) Run(X) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(Y) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(Z) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(AA) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(AB) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(AC) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(AD)

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So I considered it necessary to urge the (A)brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised [a](B)generous gift, that the same would be ready as a [b](C)generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(A) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,(B) not as one grudgingly given.(C)

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